February 3, 2019 – Karel Malkoun, Radio Television & Film student at Notre Dame University-Louaize (NDU), was one of the three winners of the Best Short Film Award, at the 25th European Film Festival for her graduation film Mots et Lumieres (Words and Lights). Her film was also shortlisted for the prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards 2019.
A true cinephile, Malkoun was “too excited to watch other movies, have [her] movie screened in front of a new audience … and enjoy the whole Festival experience” to dwell on whether her project would win or lose. That is not to say she was not happy to win, she was ecstatic: “I feel so proud winning this award, because it reminded me of the entire journey I went through to achieve it, and of every single person who helped me in the process. In many ways I see it as a celebration of everyone’s hard work! And I have to say that I can't wait for the prize, which is attending the 65th International Short Film Festival Oberhausen!” Malkoun was grateful for the European Film Festival's initiative in encouraging and helping young, aspiring Lebanese directors.
Mots et Lumieres was about an 18 year old innocent, aspiring writer who explores a new side of life spent in the company of an “anti-conformist guy”. As it is a 2017 production, there are few film festivals for which it is still eligible, but Malkoun is not going to stop looking for more opportunities while she works on her next movie.
Congratulations to Karel Malkoun, we wish you all the success with your future projects.