Get your house in order

Alain Saadeh, the lead actor in Film Kteer Kbeer (Very Big Shot), shocked audiences at a domestic awards show on May 28 when he refused the Murex d’Or award. Speaking on behalf of the director and production crew of his film, Saadeh pronounced the Lebanese award show, which recognizes regional players in a variety of entertainment categories, corrupt and did not want any part of it. Executive cannot ascertain whether Saadeh and his crew were right in their accusation or not, but the refusal shows two things. One, the Lebanese movie industry is on a path of expressing greater self-confidence and sensitivity to the quality of the recognition that is offered to them. Two, the growth of this industry is accompanied by growing pains. As Executive did its inaugural investigation of the cinema industry in Lebanon, we found an industry at a crossroads. Things are starting to look up in