Zayn Alexander is a Lebanese film director and actor based in New York City.[1] He is known for his work on the short films Abroad and Manara.
Zayn Alexander | |
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Born | |
Alma mater | |
Occupation(s) | Director, Actor |
Years active | 2012 - present |
Alexander was born and raised in Lebanon.[2][3] Alexander studied psychology at the American University of Beirut and left for the United States to pursue acting in 2010.[2][4] In New York City, he met fellow actor, Pascale Seigneurie, who would soon become a frequent collaborator.[4] The two paired up to create Abroad, a film about a Lebanese couple pursuing their acting dreams in America and struggling with being typecast in Middle Eastern roles. Seigneurie wrote the short film, Alexander directed.[2][5][6] The film was shot in one day.[5] It debuted at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2018.[6][2][7][8] The Moise A. Khayrallah Center has awarded Alexander and Abroad The 2020 Khayrallah Art Prize.[9][10]
In 2019, Alexander and Seigneurie followed up with Manara, a short film about a Lebanese funeral and a family coping with the cultural pressures of Lebanese society.[4] Manara was filmed in Tyre, Lebanon.[4][11] It debuted during the 76th Venice International Film Festival in September 2019.[4]
Year | Film | Actor | Role | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018 | Abroad | Jad | Short film | ||
2019 | Manara | Rami | Short film |