Mehdi Barsaoui

Mehdi Barsaoui
Born
Mehdi M. Barsaoui

(1984-05-23) May 23, 1984 (age 40)
Tunis, Tunisia
NationalityTunisian
Alma materHigher Institute of Multimedia Arts of Tunis
DAMS
Occupation(s)Director, screenwriter, cinematographer, poet
Years active2010–present
Notable workA Son

Mehdi M. Barsaoui (born 23 May 1984), is a Tunisian filmmaker.[1] He is best known as the director of the critically acclaimed feature film A Son (2019) and shorts Sideways (2010) and Bobby (2014).[2][3]

Personal life

He was born on 23 May 1984 in Tunis, Tunisia. He graduated from the Higher Institute of Multimedia Arts of Tunis (ISAMM). After graduation, he moved to Italy and completed his training and graduated from DAMS in Bologna.[4]

Career

During the life in Italy, he directed three short films: Sideways (2010), Bobby (2014) and We Are Just Fine Like This (2016). All three short film received critical acclaim and then selected in several international festivals where they won several prizes. The short We Are Just Fine Like This won the Best Muhr Short award at the Dubai International Film Festival.[5]

In 2019, he made his directorial debut with the film, Un fils (A Son) which was produced as a collaborative work of Tunisia, France, Lebanon and Qatar. The film had its premiere at the Venice International Film Festival.[6] The film received official selection at the Venice Film Festival 2019, where Sami Bouajila won the award for best actor in the Orizzonti section. At the Filmfest Hamburg, the film won the NDR Young Talent Award. The film also received critical acclaim.[7] In 2020, the film won Prabhat International Award at Pune International Film Festival (PIFF).[8]

Filmography

Year Film Role Genre Ref.
2010 Sideways Director, editor, writer Short film
2012 It Was Better Tomorrow Editor Documentary
2012 Widjène Editor Documentary
2013 Le Challat de Tunis First assistant director Documentary
2014 Bobby Director, editor, writer Short film
2016 We Are Just Fine Like This Director, editor, writer Short film
2017 35 MM Director, editor, writer Short film
2017 Beauty and the Dogs First assistant director Film
2018 Omertà Editor Short film
2019 A Son Director, writer Film

References

  1. ^ "Mehdi M. Barsaoui: 1er assistant réalisateur, Assistant réalisateur, Monteur". allocine. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  2. ^ "BIK ENEICH - UN FILS: Orizzonti". labiennale. 13 July 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  3. ^ "'A Son' ('Bik Eneich'/'Un fils'): Film Review". Hollywood Reporter. 31 August 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Mehdi M. Barsaoui". IFFR. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  5. ^ "Venice Film Festival 2019: 'A Son' raises the issues of modern-day Tunisia". The National News. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  6. ^ "MEHDI M. BARSAOUI: DIRECTOR, TUNISIA". Festival Marrakech. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Film Review: 'A Son'". Variety. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  8. ^ "18th edition of PIFF: Tunisian family drama a Son wins best film award". 17 January 2020.