food and culture have remained an integral part of our environment and upbringing, as well as the fascination with Lebanese arts, culture and tradition.
Camille: Jessica has an amazing passion for film. She has been instrumental in driving the LFF project. The rest of the team are also family and friends, and we’ve grown closer working together.
Jessica: I was born and raised in Sydney, Australia. My mother was also born in Australia and she has both a Lebanese and Armenian background; my father was born in Lebanon and migrated to Australia when he was young. I love and appreciate all my cultural backgrounds. I am lucky in the sense that I was taught how to read, write and speak Arabic at school for eleven years. I grew up appreciating my Lebanese and Armenian background for what it truly is. I like to acknowledge the beauty and mysteries that Lebanon beholds; I’m interested in the way that Lebanese people express themselves, and I love the fact that my parents can tell me so many stories and share so many personal experiences about the country and what it has endured for so many years. I’m thankful that my parents opened my eyes to the magnificence of my cultural backgrounds. Nadine Labaki’s film screened at the first LFF How long have you known each other? How did you first become interested in Lebanese Jessica: Camille is my brother-in-law, he married my sister Julia Lattouf (who is also our publicist) three years ago. Camille is full of inspiration, knowledge and appreciation and he is very supportive of the arts, especially because Julia and I have a passion for it. He is the best brother-in-law anyone could ask for! Camille: I first became interested in Lebanese film after seeing trailers to films online, through social media and Lebanese online newspapers, before realising so many of these great stories were not being told or shown in Australia. This is what prompted our discussion of starting a Lebanese Film Festival. films?