Movies That Matter

AUSTRALIAN FILMMAKER DAIZY GEDEON TO RECEIVE THE MOVIE THAT MATTERS AWARD AT BETTER WORLD FUND GALA, CANNES INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Monday July 12 at 3.14 Beach La Croisette Cannes

Australian filmmaker Daizy Gedeon is to receive the Movie That Matters Award at the Cannes International Film Festival.

The award, to be presented by Bruno Chatelin filmfestivals.com founder, at a gala event in Cannes hosted by the Better World Fund on Monday July 12, is for her new feature documentary ENOUGH! LEBANON’S DARKEST HOUR which will premiere in the Cannes Marche (market) next week.

Daizy will be in Cannes to receive the Award, given annually by Filmfestivals.com, which comes just ahead of the first anniversary of the devastating port explosion in Beirut which killed more than 200 people and destroyed much of the city.

Born in Lebanon and raised in Australia, Daizy is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. In ENOUGH! LEBANON’S DARKEST HOUR the filmmaker and journalist she takes us on a powerful and personal journey behind the mask of lies and deception and into the heart of Lebanon, deep into the historic and psychological causes behind the erosion and destruction of a country still renowned for its extraordinary beauty and the vivacity and resilience of its people. 

This will be the first feature documentary to be released since the Beirut port explosion which killed 211 people and left 300,000 homeless and caused more than $15 billion in damages. It was the third largest non-nuclear blast in human history. The film features exclusive and controversial interviews with many of the key political leaders at the time, including Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (July 2019 first interview given to a western journalist in 5 years), former Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil and prominent Hezbollah minister, Mohammed Fneich (2019 first interview given by any member of Hezbollah to a western journalist since 2006). Daizy calls these leaders to account for the corruption that is destroying the country, denying the people the most basic of services.

Shot over four years and across four continents, the film addresses the 2019 October Revolution and the global social justice movement that was triggered among the millions of Lebanese diaspora who rallied to support their families and friends back home. It provides a powerful insight into the complex traditional and emotional loyalties among the people that still threaten any chance for change in this once magnificent country.

Daizy prosecutes the case against the corrupt political class which has reduced a proud people to beg for garbage collection instead of greatness and negotiate potholes rather than peace.

Daizy said: “I am speechless that this distinguished foundation have chosen my film to be honoured and to receive this important award this year. It is humbling that the humanitarian message of my film has been acknowledged by a body that identifies and rewards “cinematic art in the service of humanity”.

“The serendipity of our two worlds colliding is awe-inspiring and provides me with great hope that the message of my film may help in changing attitudes, hearts and minds towards Lebanon and stimulate real change for a nation and a people that have endured more hardship than any other single race in history,” she commented.

Previous award winners and attendees at the Better World Fund Gala include Nobel Laureates, Academy, Globe and Grammy Awards winners such as: H.S.H Prince Albert II, Sharon Stone, Forest Whitaker, Wim Wenders, Jean-Michel Cousteau, Mary J. Blige. This year the Fund will honour filmmakers Barry Alexander Brown and Spike Lee.

Media contact, including interview requests, trailer and images:

Tracey Mair l TM Publicity l Ph: 0419 221 493 l E: traceym@tmpublicity.com