Walid Chmait, a Life at the Heart of Cinema

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Walid Saab Chmait, known as Walid Chmait, was one of the pioneers of film criticism in Lebanon, as well as a director, actor, and television and radio host, notably on Télé Liban. His influence extended beyond Lebanon, shaping Arab cinema more broadly. To honor his legacy, his son Salim Saab began filming a documentary about his career. Shortly after production started, Walid Chmait passed away on February 26, 2024, at the age of 82. The filmmaker chose to continue the project, gathering testimonies from those who knew and worked with his father.

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Salim Saab is a former rapper, filmmaker, journalist, and radio host with a diverse professional background. Born in 1981, he studied journalism at the École Supérieure de Journalisme in Paris. In 2017, he directed and produced Beirut Street: Hip Hop in Lebanon, the first documentary dedicated to the history of hip hop in the country. He followed with Forte (2018), a documentary exploring women street artists in the Arab world, featuring voices from Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. In 2020, he documented the Lebanese uprising with The October Cedar. He later released Toxic Hope and, in 2024, directed and produced his first short fiction film, In Maya’s Eyes.