ARZÉ

November 7, 2024, 7:00 P.M.

The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108, George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex, 900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Outside the Box [Office] and Ambient Light invite you to attend
 

A Special Theatrical Screening of

ARZÉ

Lebanon's Official Entry for Best International Film
at the 2025 Academy Awards

ARZE Poster
Directed by Mira Shaib
Written by USC Alum Faissal Sam Shaib & Louay Khraish
Produced by Faissal Sam Shaib, Louay Khraish, and Zeina Badran
Cinematography by USC Alumna Heyjin Jun

Followed by a Q&A with Mira Shaib, Faissal Sam Shaib, and Louay Khraish

7:00 P.M. on Thursday, November 7th, 2024

The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108
George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVPs REQUIRED.
RSVPs ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.

FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

North American Premiere: 2024 Tribeca Film Festival


All main USC entry points are open. Main pedestrian entrances are accessible 24/7. The McClintock and McCarthy entrances provide pedestrian and vehicle access 24/7; other vehicle entrances are open on weekdays from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Learn more about the expedited access procedures.
 

About Arzé


Arzé is a struggling single mother living in Beirut with her agoraphobic older sister and teenage son, Kinan. Supporting the family by making homemade pies delivered on foot by her son, Arzé knows that the business can only sustain them for so long. In a move of desperation, she steals her sister’s cherished bracelet to pawn for the down payment on a delivery scooter. But disaster strikes when the scooter is stolen, jeopardizing her only way to provide for her family. Up against a ticking clock to either find the scooter or a way to pay for it in full, Arzé and Kinan embark on a wild journey through the turbulent but vibrant, multiethnic Lebanese capital in pursuit of their moped.

Provided courtesy of Ambient Light. Running time: 93 minutes.

About the Guests


Faissal Sam Shaib, an MFA graduate from the USC School of Cinematic Arts 2017, is a Production Manager, Writer, and Producer based in the United States. He has worked on Netflix's Making a Murderer and several independent films and documentaries currently available on Netflix, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Sam is traveling the world with Arzé, Lebanon's submission to the Oscars 2025. He co-wrote and produced this feature film directed by his sister, Mira Shaib. He has also produced multiple award-winning short films and worked as a production manager for Participant Media, Film Independent, Sundance Film Festival, Outfest Film Festival, and Spirit Awards. Currently, he is in post-production as a producer on Pinch, an Indian feature film directed, written, and produced by SCA alum Uttera Singh.

Louay Khraish is the Associate Director of International Programs at Film Independent. He is the writer and producer of the feature film Arzé (Tribeca 2024). He worked on the award-winning, female-centric, Lebanese feature film Solitaire and the Canadian film Peace by Chocolate. In 2018, he produced the Global Media Makers Summit in Cairo and the educational web series Film Arabi. Louay was Director of Digital Media at Baynounah Media Group in Abu Dhabi, where he developed content for its television stations. He earned his master’s in media studies at the New York School. While pursuing his Ph.D. in the Humanities, which he earned from the University of Texas at Dallas, he focused on creative writing and feminine voices in film and literature.

Mira Shaib is a Lebanese director and screenwriter. She is known for her debut feature film, Arzé, which was filmed in Beirut and premiered at the Tribeca Festival 2024 in New York. The film is Lebanon's submission to the Academy Awards 2025 and is currently on an extensive world tour, being showcased at festivals in Africa, Europe, and the Americas. Before Arzé, Shaib gained critical acclaim for her short film Lilacs, currently available for streaming on Shahid. She has also worked on several digital videos with NGOs in Lebanon. Shaib directed the Beirut segments of the web series Film Arabi, an educational program produced by Film Independent. Shaib completed her MFA in Film Production at Concordia University in 2024. She is collaborating with her Arzé colleagues, Faissal Sam Shaib and Louay Khraish, on her second feature film.

About Outside the Box [Office]


Outside the Box [Office] is a weekly showcase for upcoming releases highlighting world cinema, documentary and independent film titles. The series draws from around the globe to present movies that may challenge, inspire or simply entertain.

To view the calendar of screenings, click here

To SUBSCRIBE to our MAILING LIST for upcoming free screenings and events, e-mail the word "Subscribe" to: aago@cinema.usc.edu

 

Check-In & Reservations


This screening is free of charge and open to the public A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs


Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Executive Director, Film Programming and Special Projects, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking


On-campus parking at the University of Southern California is limited. We recommend buying a day pass for the Royal Street Structure, located at the intersection of Royal Street and W. Jefferson Blvd. Parking passes are $20/car. For more information about parking at USC, please visit USC Transportation Website:

https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/daily-and-hourly-parking/
https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/about-us/entrance-hours/

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu