Photo credit: Matteo Chinellato
You might recognize Nadine Labaki from her roles in popular films, such as Capernaum (2018), which garnered her an Academy Award nomination, and Where Do We Go Now? (2011). But Labaki has ensured her influence will reach beyond her film appearances. In 2024, she was on the jury at the Cannes Film Festival, and used that opportunity not only to judge films but also to emphasize the stories that matter now more than ever, especially those about war, poverty, and resilience.
Since 2018, Labaki has also been a High Profile Supporter for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Her work there makes sense as Labaki was a refugee herself during Lebanon’s bloody civil war. Not till the war ended in 1991 was a 17-year-old Labaki able to pursue her career as an actress.
Because of those early experiences, you’ll find that the films she stars in and directs have a common theme–change. She’s been recognized as one of the 100 Most Powerful Arabs in Gulf Business’ annual list for both her cultural and humanitarian work.
Notes – Spreadsheet is wrong. Her agent is Roeg Sutherland, and his email isn’t what’s in the sheet. He works for CAA, but they have no email listed even for just general inquiries. I called and left a message for Sutherland with my email.
