Lucien Bourjeily

Who is Lucien Bourjeily?

Lucien Bourjeily is a Lebanese independent filmmaker and stage director. Mostly known for having brought professional improvisational theater to the Arab world, Bourjeily was the first to introduce improvisational theatre to the streets of Beirut in the midst of political turmoil in May 2008 and behind the first professional improvisational theatre show in the Middle East; defying all censorship laws still applicable in this region: peacefully challenging social and cultural barriers using theatre to set off dialogue, encourage free speech, and as a true force of positive change. His work in both film and theater has traveled the worldwide festival circuits and won him many prestigious awards of which the YCE international British Council award in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2009. In 2012, he brought his progressive and innovative approach to theatre to London's LIFT Festival with his hard-hitting interactive play "66 Minutes in Damascus". In 2013, he wrote and directed a play called "Will it pass or not?" criticizing the Lebanese General Security Censorship Bureau. The show was banned from public performance.

Lately, he was chosen by CNN as one of eight leading cultural icons from Lebanon making an impact locally and internationally.