Shame عيب
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In 19th-century Levant, Salma Zahore'’s spontaneous act of undressing during a staged photograph sparks scandal, exposing how the concept of shame shapes bodies, identities, and social order across time.
Synopsis (EN) :
In the 19th century, in the Levant region, Salma Zahore, along with her parents and neighbors, participated in a photoshoot using a long exposure technique. At the end of it, Salma decided to take off her coat, revealing her body. Unaware of the chaos this gesture could cause within her circle, she did not know it could lead to shame (عيب).
Synopsis (FR) :
Au XIXe siècle, dans la région du Levant, Salma Zahore, avec ses parents et ses voisins, a participé à une séance photo utilisant la technique de longue exposition. À la fin de celle-ci, Salma décida d’enlever son manteau, révélant son corps. Ignorant le chaos que ce geste pourrait provoquer dans son entourage, elle ne savait pas qu’il pourrait entraîner le sentiment de honte (عيب).
Director's statement (EN) :
In this film, titled "عيب (Shame)", the complex concept of shame is explored within the context of Arab culture, specifically focusing on its impact on societal norms, gender roles, and expressions of identity. The word "Shame" (عيب) is commonly used in the Arab world to dictate a social norm not to be transgressed in various situations, so much so that shame is ever-present in our surroundings.
Set against a backdrop of recreated 19th-century scenes from the Levant region, the film is made in a vertical (9:16) format to respect the aspect ratio of photos from that era, adding authenticity to the narrative. It also introduces a modern and queer perspective, challenging traditional narratives and expectations.
The story revolves around Salma Zahore, who embodies different personas representing various societal roles and expectations. Through Salma's interactions with herself as well as with neighbors and family members, the film delves into the rigid boundaries dictated by the concept of "عيب" and the consequences of challenging these norms.
The use of AI-transformed voices adds a surreal and futuristic element to the narrative, emphasizing the timeless relevance of the themes explored. As Salma sheds layers, both metaphorically and literally, revealing her true self, societal reactions escalate into unnecessary drama, highlighting the tendency to amplify minor transgressions in the name of shame.
Through this artistic exploration, the film prompts viewers to reconsider their understanding of shame, societal expectations, and the evolving nature of cultural identities. It challenges the notion of shame as a tool for social control while celebrating individuality and the diverse expressions of human identity.
Director's statement (FR) :
Dans ce film intitulé « عيب (Shame) », le concept complexe de la honte est exploré dans le contexte de la culture arabe, en se concentrant particulièrement sur son impact sur les normes sociales, les rôles de genre et les expressions de l’identité. Le mot « Shame » (عيب) est couramment utilisé dans le monde arabe pour imposer une norme sociale à ne pas transgresser dans diverses situations, au point que la honte est omniprésente autour de nous.
Se déroulant dans des scènes recréées du XIXᵉ siècle dans la région du Levant, le film est réalisé en format vertical (9:16) afin de respecter le ratio des photographies de cette époque, apportant ainsi une authenticité à la narration. Il y introduit également une perspective moderne et queer, remettant en question les récits et attentes traditionnels.
L’histoire suit Salma Zahore, qui incarne différentes personas représentant divers rôles et attentes sociaux. À travers ses interactions avec elle-même ainsi qu’avec ses voisins et membres de sa famille, le film explore les frontières rigides imposées par le concept de « عيب » et les conséquences de ceux qui osent défier ces normes.
L’utilisation de voix transformées par intelligence artificielle ajoute une dimension surréaliste et futuriste à la narration, soulignant la pertinence intemporelle des thèmes abordés. Au fur et à mesure que Salma se dépouille de ses couches, tant métaphoriquement que littéralement, révélant son véritable moi, les réactions de la société se transforment en drame inutile, mettant en lumière la tendance à amplifier les transgressions mineures au nom de la honte.
À travers cette exploration artistique, le film invite le spectateur à repenser sa compréhension de la honte, des attentes sociales et de l’évolution des identités culturelles. Il remet en question l’idée de la honte comme outil de contrôle social tout en célébrant l’individualité et la diversité des expressions de l’identité humaine.
Credits
Produced by
h7o7
Film by
Hadi Moussally
DOP / Post-Production / Special Effects
Olivier Pagny
Starring
Salma Zahore
Original Music
Rasheed Jalloul
A.I. Voice using @elevenlabsio
Hadi Moussally
Fashion Stylist
Fausto Leoni
Assistant Stylist
Giacomo Presezzi
Assistant
Mari Hanna
Fashion Designers
Emmartiga, Lluis Colom & Victor Von Schwarz
Special Thanks
Kopitadenieve & La Perversa Fotografia
2026
• Mena Film Festival, Vancouver, Canada
Winner – Buraq Award
2025
• Mexico City Videodance Festival, Mexico, Mexico
Winner – Best Dance Film
• Silhouette Festival, Paris, France
Honorable Mention
• QueerCine International Film Festival, Ghent, Belgium
Winner – Best Super Short Film
• Multiplié Dance Film Festival, Trondheim, Norway
Winner – Best International Dance Film
• Cinema Talks, Graz, Austria
Honorable Mention
2024
• FASHIONCLASH Festival, Maastricht, Netherlands
Winner – Best Fashion Film
• Choreoscope, Barcelona, Spain
Winner – Best International Dance Film Festival
• Bucharest International Dance Film Festival, Bucharest, Romania
Honorable Mention
• Beirut Shorts International Film Festival, Beirut, Lebanon
Honorable Mention
• Point Of U, Brussels, Belgium
Finalist
10 Awards & Nominations
2026
• Queer Shorts Vienna, Vienna, Austria
• Temps d'images, Düsseldorf, Germany
• Viernulvier, Ghent, Belgium
2025
• Jaha Film Festival, Lisboa, Portugal
• Barcelona Queer Film Festival, Barcelona, Spain
• Moovy Festival, Köln, Germany
• Chéries-Chéris, Paris, France
• Bradford Queer Film Festival, Bradford, United Kingdom
• Sardinia Queer Film Expo, Cagliary, Italy
• SEMONA – Middle East & North Africa Week, Mexico, Mexico
• Aesthetica Short Film Festival, York, United Kingdom
• Pink Screens Film Festival, Bruxelles, Belgium
• Scottish Queer International Film Festival, Glasgow, United Kingdom
• Ferrara Film Corto Festival, Ferrara, Italy
• Les Instants Vidéo, Marseille, France
• Project Space Festival Juárez, Juárez, Mexico
• Everybody’s Perfect, Geneva, Switzerland
• INTERFACCIA DIGITALE, Pesaro, Italy
• Linz International Short Film Festival, Linz, Austria
• Calgary Arab Film Nights, Calgary, Canada
• Lebanon Cinema Days in Canada, Montreal & Ottawa, Canada
• Lebanese Film Festival in Latin America, Mexico, Mexico
• MiX Festival, Milan, Italy
• New York City Fashion Film Festival, New York, United States
• kNOwBOX Dance Film Festival, Seoul, Dallas & Mexico
• Queer Wave Cyprus LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, Nicosia, Cyprus
• On Art Dance & Music Film Festival, Warsaw, Poland
• Encuentro para Cinéfagos, San Cristóbal
• Festival Internacional de Videodança do RS, Porto Alegre, Brazil
• Bendigo Queer Film Festival, Bendigo, Australia
• Charlotte Pride Festival, Charlotte, United States
• Antwerp Queer Arts Festival, Antwerp, Belgium
• REELING Dance on Screen, Edmonton, Canada
• Squish Movie Camp, Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Queer Spectrum Film Festival, Dublin, Ireland
• Fairy Tales Queer Art & Film Festival, Calgary, Canada
• Queer Mvmnt Fest, San Diego, United States
• Berlin Dance Film Festival, Berlin, Germany
• Queer Movie Nights Athens, Athens, Greece
• Wunderground Film Festival, Kemzeke, Belgium
• Pink Apple Film Festival, Zurich, Switzerland
• Wicked Queer, Cambridge, United States
• International Festival of Films on Art, Montreal, Canada
• PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Melbourne, Australia
• Minnesota Film Festival, Minnesota, United States
• Vierte Welle Film Festival, Berlin, Germany
• International Feminist & Queer Festival Red Dawns, Ljubljana, Slovenia
• Leeds Queer Film Festival, Leeds, United Kingdom
• Fashion in Flux, Rotterdam, Netherlands
• ROLLOUT Dance Film Festival, Macao
• Flatlands Dance Film Festival, Urbana, United States
2024
• Sarajevo Fashion Film Festival, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
• ASVOFF, Paris, France
• Inclucine Festival, Cartagena, Colombia
• MIX Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
• Annual Arab Film Festival, San Francisco, United States
• Pool Film Festival, Berlin, Germany
• Fringe! Queer Film & Arts Fest, London, United Kingdom
69 Official Selections