Directing
Hady Zaccak
Born 1974-03-22 · Beirut, Lebanon
Born March 22, 1974 in Beirut, Hady Zaccak studied at the IESAV film school (Institute of Scenic, Audiovisual and Cinematographic Studies/Saint-Joseph University/Beirut). He holds a diploma in audiovisual studies (1997) and a Masters in cinema studies/film directing option (2001). He participated in film directing, editing and production workshops at FEMIS (Paris-1996), INSAS (Brussels-1999) and HFF Konrad Wolf (Potsdam-2007). Since 1997, he has written and directed more than 20 documentaries, which have been broadcast on several television channels in Lebanon, the Arab world and Europe and presented/awarded at several film festivals around the world. Four of his films “Ya Omri-104 rides”, “A History Lesson”, “Marcedes” and “Kamal Jumblatt, witness and martyr” were also screened in theaters in Beirut. Hady Zaccak uses documentary to bring history to life, record the present, preserve memory and film metamorphoses and stagnation. After writing a book in French on the global history of Lebanese cinema "Lebanese cinema: itinerary of a cinema towards the unknown" (1929-1996)" (Dar-el-Machreq -1997-Beirut), he continues his explorations the history of cinema in Lebanon with two documentaries "Lebanon through cinema" and "War cinema in Lebanon" (2003). Over the years, he has filmed the constant metamorphosis of Beirut "Beirut…Points of view" (2000) and "Taxi Beirut" (2011)) while discovering other Arab capitals "Sindbad in Baghdad" (2003) and "Taxi Sana'a" (2012). He investigated for television on the place of religion and religious groups in the Middle East from Lebanon, in Egypt and Iran “The Neo Missionaries” (2004) – “The Copts” (2004) – “The Shiites” (2005) He studied the Palestinian cause with “1000 and 1000 Nights” (1999) and “Refugees for Life” (2006) and then documented the 2006 war in Lebanon and its social and environmental repercussions with 4 films: “The War of peace” (2007) - “The oil spill in Lebanon” (2007) - “The Shiite echoes of Lebanon” (2007) and “Sunni echoes of Lebanon” (2008). “Honeymoon 58” (2013) and “Kamal Jumblatt, witness and martyr” (2015). In 2017, he presented “Ya Omri” (“104 wrinkles”) where he addressed the theme of memory through the portrait of his grandmother. After several years of research, HZ published a new book “The Last Film Screening” in 2021, exposing the social, political and cultural history of Tripoli through its cinemas. His following films received awards: “Ya Omri” (“104 wrinkles”), “Kamal Jumblatt, witness and martyr”, “Marcedes”, “A history lesson”, “The oil spill in Lebanon”, “1000 and 1000 Nights" Alongside his work as a filmmaker, Zaccak has been a professor at IESAV-Saint Joseph University of Beirut since 1998. He teaches courses in film writing and directing, cinema history and film genres. He also gives workshops on documentary and cinematographic culture in several regions of the Arab world (Lebanon-Jordan-Oman-Egypt) and in Africa (ISMA, Benin). Hady Zaccak is also the founder of ZAC films.
Acting credits
NRA time travel film incorporating truthful moments and confessions that takes us back to Beirut of the 80s, Palestine of the 50s, and dystopian Paris.
Beirut Borhan
2022
9.0How is secularism depicted in films? The term "Aa'La'Ma'Ni" means worldly in Arabic. It's significant in the Middle East, where secularism is controversial since the majority often link secularism with atheism and anti-religious sentiment. SECULAR | Aa'La'Ma'Ni, a documentary based on academic research, explores the depiction of secularism in Middle Eastern cinema and TV channels. Filmmakers and regional producers openly discuss religion, sectarianism, authorities, minorities, and industry challenges.
SECULAR | Aa'La'Ma'Ni
2025
NRGérard Courant's "Filmed Diary" of December 14, 2011, produced in Dubai (United Arab Emirates). Between December 7 and 15, 2011, Gérard Courant was invited by the Dubai International Film Festival, in the United Arab Emirates. It was an opportunity for him to film many "Cinematons" of personalities from the Arab world and to continue his "Film Notebooks" from which he brought back 7 episodes.
Dubai Winter Diary VI: Light and Reflections
2012
Behind the camera
Documentary tracing Hezbollah’s emergence in southern Lebanon after years of Israeli occupation, focusing on its social base, resistance activities, and the return of displaced villagers.
Hezbollah: The Chronicle of a Return
1998
Documentary tracing Hezbollah’s emergence in southern Lebanon after years of Israeli occupation, focusing on its social base, resistance activities, and the return of displaced villagers.
Hezbollah: The Chronicle of a Return
1998
10.0Kamal Jumblatt, the Master of Moukhtara Castle, recounts the major events of his life until his assassination on March 16, 1977. The film takes us on a global journey from Lebanon to India, in the footsteps of Kamal Jumblatt, the founder of the PSP (Progressive Socialist Party), the leader, the rebel, the reformer, the thinker, the poet, the Yogi … Kamal Jumblatt (1917-1977) becomes the last witness... of his own life.
Kamal Joumblatt, Witness and Martyr
2015
NRThis political documentary by Hady Zaccak delves into the world of Lebanese Shiites through interviews with three Shiite youths, each with a different political and ideological affiliation, in addition to a very valuable interview with late Shiite cleric Sayyed Hani Fahs. The documentary explores the Shiites’ relation to Beirut’s Dahiyeh suburb, a Shiite stronghold, as well as the difference between the political and social perspectives of these youths.
Shi'a Echoes from Lebanon
2007
NRBeirut seen by 5 artists from different fields and generations: theatre man Jalal Khoury, filmmaker Borhane Alaouié, musician Ahmed Kaabour, photographer Hratch Tokatlian and painter Maya el Hage are filmed by Hady Zaccak.
Beirut…Points of View
2000
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Marcedes
2011
5.7Hady follows his grandmother Henriette as she ages and crosses the centenarian milestone to reach 104 years. He witnesses the transformation of her memory, her emigration from Lebanon to Brazil and the stories of love, children and suspended time.
104 Wrinkles
2017
5.7Hady follows his grandmother Henriette as she ages and crosses the centenarian milestone to reach 104 years. He witnesses the transformation of her memory, her emigration from Lebanon to Brazil and the stories of love, children and suspended time.
104 Wrinkles
2017
NRNo synopsis available yet.
Cilama
2024
NRThree families of Palestinian Refugees living in gatherings- Tyre, South of Lebanon and a human rights activist make you discover the difficult life conditions of Palestinian Refugees, their daily life, their aspiration to communicate with their relatives in Germany and their continuous waiting.
Refugees for Life
2006
A creative reimagination of the Israeli-Arab conflict through the lens of the classic Arabian Nights tales, with Scheherazade narrating a story where Aladdin's magic lamp is stolen by an Israeli soldier, prompting Sindbad and Ali Baba to join forces to recover it. Will Aladdin retrieve his magic lamp?
1000 & 1000 Nights
1999
NRIn 1975, the Lebanese wars started when Maroun Bagdadi ended his first feature film "Beirutya Beirut". Did the war give an identity to Lebanese cinema? Productions of documentaries, action movies, actor films, co-productions, and emigration. Since 1975, the war has remained a major subject for feature fiIms shot in Lebanon. This is a history of stories about war and cinema.
Cinema of War in Lebanon
2003
NRIn 1975, the Lebanese wars started when Maroun Bagdadi ended his first feature film "Beirutya Beirut". Did the war give an identity to Lebanese cinema? Productions of documentaries, action movies, actor films, co-productions, and emigration. Since 1975, the war has remained a major subject for feature fiIms shot in Lebanon. This is a history of stories about war and cinema.
Cinema of War in Lebanon
2003