“IT’S JUST US”, A NEW INDEPENDENT, ARAB FILM PROJECT, LAUNCHES FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
“It’s Just Us” is a short, independent film telling the story of two women who meet in the heart of Beirut and go through a journey of love, lust, and struggle. An exciting new, queer movie set and filmed in Beruit, “It’s Just Us” is currently seeking funding to launch via IndieGoGo.
LevantX is thrilled to announce that we are supporting the short film “It’s Just Us” as executive producers. When our podcaster Sophie Ghaziri came to us with this incredible vision, we couldn’t say “no”. Steph is an amazing young filmmaker and we are so proud to be partnering with her on this project.
This film's goal is to provide a voice to the unheard, marginalised and suppressed. It stands with every queer Arab whose life is a fight for love and acceptance. Together, through this expressive short film, we can revolutionise love in a society that is very much in need of it. We need to appreciate and see the Arab queer community as part of society, people within their own right.
It is urgent. It needs to seen just as we need to be seen. It needs to be heard just as we need to be heard. Our hope is to reach traditional Arab audiences so they too can see and feel its utmost rawness; we want them to experience a journey not just of feeling, but a chance to awaken deeper compassion and understanding of what love really is.
Your donations will help us pay the crew, cast and venues behind this project before the end of August, in a struggling economy where people are barely able to support themselves. It will also allow us to support the pro-queer safe spots, bars, restaurants and gathering locations that were demolished by the blast and have been struggling to rebuild. People across all industries are facing great hardships, with unemployment rates rising. With your help, we’ll not only be able to raise funds to produce a ground-breaking film, we’ll also be employing local talent with your help and investing in Lebanon.
Any amount raised over the target to pay the cast will be donated to LGBTQ+ charity Haven For Artists. We thank you for anything you can give to this cause, and are extremely grateful for your help in ensuring the safety and livelihood of these people.
The Team
Stephanie Moukarzel (Director): Also the scriptwriter behind this film, she is an independent artist that has worked on documentaries and short films with Beirut as their focal point.
https://vimeo.com/stephaniemoukarzel
Sophie Ghaziri (Executive Creative Producer): a highly skilled individual with a Masters in International Journalism and Politics, Sophie is bringing her versatile talents to this short film. She is passionate, zealous and is the host of the LevantX Podcast.
https://open.spotify.com/show/2LxaIeKaNQ5TZ0F2C...
Ralph Mrad (Director of Photography): He brings his experience and a unique eye for visuals to this project, utilizing his talents as a multi-skilled digital content creator.
https://vimeo.com/ralphmrad
Camil Abi Najem (Production Manager - LevantX): He works behind the scenes to ensure that production proceeds efficiently and on schedule. Part of LevantX, he was brought on board to manage the inner-workings that go into the making of this film.
Director’s Statement
Stephanie Moukarzel, Director “It’s Just Us”
“This short film comes from the depth of my heart. The film has a life of its own. A life that many queer people would connect with. I started writing ‘It’s Just Us’ at a time when my soul was recovering from a day that destroyed the lives of an entire population - the Beirut explosion on the 4th of August 2020. Beirut lives in my heart. Everything we had was taken away from us - our home, our souls, our being. The pain Beirut makes me feel is as powerful as love. Love is euphoric. Some days you feel a number of good vibrations running through your body and other days it feels too painful to carry. It’s painful when you love something that is constantly being taken away from you. Something the world doesn’t want you to have. When I first started writing the film I called it ‘Isn’t Love a Revolution?’ as a way to express what I was feeling - an abundance of emotions, from anger to fear to pain to passion to sadness to love to hope or hopelessness and to pain again. ‘It’s Just Us’ became part of a process of growth. As I evolved, the film evolved. It has its own muse - a muse that created a love revolution in my soul. The process matters as much as the film and its afterlife. When I was writing the script, I imagined Ayla and Leila being icons of love. The icons that would inspire love, acceptance and freedom in a society that is yet to understand that love is a universal language. It’s about people falling in love with other people regardless of their gender. Love has no boundaries. Love does not comply with any religious or cultural beliefs. It is its own belief. Creating ‘It’s Just Us’ is my way of sparking a love revolution in people’s hearts and minds. It’s my way of fighting with the queer community. I want this film to express itself loudly and allow me to create a safe space for every Ayla and Leila and make sure they know that this love is valid and real and that they are seen. It is a piece of art but also a piece that screams for itself, is emotionally charged and comes from an intimate and sensitive place.”
“It’s Just Us” is currently seeking funding on IndieGoGo
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