Lebanese filmmaker refuses UNESCO award shared with an Israeli

Lebanese filmmaker Randa al-Shahal has refused an award granted by UNESCO for peace for her film al-Mutahaderat (The Civilized Ones), because she shared this prize with Israeli filmmaker Amos Geitai for his film Sahyoun in Venice festival.

In a statement she released in Paris that was published on Monday by the Lebanese daily al-Safir, the Lebanese filmmaker said, "Regardless of the importance of this prize, I cannot accept because it is shared with the Israeli filmmaker."

In a telephone call with the Lebanese paper on Sunday night, the Lebanese filmmaker asserted that she is persistent on her stand despite the fact it is the first time UNESCO has offered such a prize.

She added that her film was characterized during its three shows in the 56th session of the Venice Film Festival by a very strong turnout by the public.

The Lebanese daily said the film depicts chapters of Lebanese daily life during the civil war through various and contradictory figures, yet figures that could react with the trends of the bloody events of the war.