Lebanese film maker Corine Shawi. Photos: Philippa Geisler Crone/IMS

Lebanese director Corine Shawi is directing a film at The National Film School of Denmark this spring. Her stay in Denmark is the fruit of collaboration between IMS and the Film School

It was a combination of great talent and sheer luck that led Lebanese director Corine Shawi to the National Film School of Denmark this winter to direct a film for the school's graduation production.

Two years ago she was participating in a film workshop in Cairo and Denmark arranged by The Danish Center for Culture and Development and IMS, when Arne Bro, the leader of the TV study programme at the Film School, spotted her talent. When a student dropped out of the Film School this winter, Arne Bro grabbed the chance and invited Corine Shawi to study at the school for one semester. With financial support from the IMS Media Programme with the Arab world and Iran the project was realized, leading Corine Shawi to direct a graduation film in a team work with two other students.

Different but great teaching

For Corine Shawi who is residing in an apartment in central Copenhagen during her stay, the education at the Film School has changed her approach to film making considerably, she told IMS. The difference between her experiences at the film school she attended in Lebanon and at the Danish Film School lies both in the mental approach to film making and in the method being taught.

- In Denmark making films is simpler than in Lebanon. Here you just do it. It is easy to get started and to do the things you want to do. People trust in themselves here and have the guts to start new projects. One of the most important things I have learned here is to trust myself and to have the courage to just do things, Corine Shawi told IMS.
Through the teaching and instruction at the film school, she has sharpened her way of making films and become more conscious of her qualities.

- At the Danish Film School they make you discover and become conscious of your own film language, to stick to it, and to specify it and enhance it. This has improved my films, she said.

Personal films between emotions and control

Corine Shawi's films are very personal, taking shape between the genres of documentary and experimental film. The driving force behind her work is emotions - a force which can be difficult to control.

- When you make very emotional films it is easy to forget to be precise in your aesthetic language. I have always been steering after emotions, letting aesthetics count second. But at the Film School I have learned to be much more precise in my aesthetic language, so now I manage to combine emotions and aesthetics, she said.

Educated from the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts in Beirut, Corine Shawi has directed several documentary films in Lebanon. In all of her productions she has filmed people she has a close relationship to: friends, family members and even her self. This way of working was challenged in Denmark, where friends and family were no longer at hand.

After struggling with coming up with an idea, she decided to give her self a part along with the Danish "actors" participating in the film. The film which is built upon the theme of leaving and saying goodbye is therefore also about herself and her challenges of tuning in to the Danish mentality.

- People in Denmark tend to be quite distant and isolated. I am showing this distance and loneliness through goodbyes. But at the same time the film is about my own development in coping with the mentality here.

New mentality a challenge

It has been quite a challenge for Corine Shawi to get used to the sometimes reserved attitudes of the Danes. Especially during her first two months in Copenhagen.

- It was difficult to get to know people. Even though people are nice, they open up slowly, she said.

But experiencing another mentality and another way of living has also been inspiring to Corine Shawi.

- It has been an eye opener to be here. It is interesting to meet new mentalities, and it is a challenge to comprehend new people and try to understand them, she said.

And the Danish mentality hasn't frightened her. On the contrary, Corine Shawi assures IMS, this will not be her last visit to Denmark and explains that she is, in fact already planning to come back, because she would like to work with a Danish producer in doing the post-production of her film.

Corine Shawis graduation film is being premiered at the Danish Film School on June the 12th.