Maha Haj facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maha Haj
مها حاج |
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| Born | 1970 (age 54–55) |
| Alma mater | Hebrew University of Jerusalem |
| Occupation | Film director and screenwriter |
Maha Haj (Arabic: مها حاج; born in 1970) is a talented film director and screenwriter. She creates movies and writes the stories for them.
Contents
About Maha Haj
Maha Haj was born in Nazareth. She went to a Christian school there. Her parents were active in politics, but Maha was more interested in art and writing.
Her Education
Maha first started studying pharmacy science. But after a year, she changed her mind. She decided to study literature instead. She earned her first degree in English and Arabic literature from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Later, she got her master's degree in language and literature from Haifa University.
Starting Her Film Career
Maha began her career as a teacher. However, she spent her free time on her true passions: art and writing. She soon started working in the film industry. She helped design movie sets and worked as an art director. This means she helped create the look and feel of the movies. She also helped improve scripts for films like The Time That Remains (2009) and The Attack (2012).
Her Films
Maha Haj is known for writing and directing her own films.
Early Works
In 2009, Maha wrote and directed a short film called Burtuqal. This film was very popular and shown at many film festivals around the world. The next year, in 2010, she made a documentary film called Within These Walls.
International Recognition
Maha gained international fame in 2016 with her film Personal Affairs. She wrote and directed this movie. It was shown for the first time internationally at the famous Cannes Film Festival in France. The film also won the Best Feature Film award at the Haifa International Film Festival. Judges praised it for being "full of love for humankind, smooth and funny, captivating and kindhearted."
Recent Successes
In 2022, Maha Haj's film Mediterranean Fever was released. She wrote and directed this movie too. It premiered at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival and won the award for Best Screenplay. This means the judges thought her story was the best. In 2024, a short film she directed called Upshot won an award at the El Gouna Film Festival.
Filmography
Maha Haj has worked on many films. Here are some of them:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | The Time That Remains | Set design, art director | |
| 2009 | Burtuqal | Director, writer | Short film |
| 2010 | Within These Walls | Director, writer | Documentary film |
| 2012 | The Attack | Set design, art director | |
| 2013 | A Strange Course of Events | Production designer | |
| 2014 | Personal Matters | Director | Short film |
| 2014 | Arabani | Set design, art director | |
| 2014 | Over the Hilltop | Set design, art director | |
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Director, writer | |
| 2022 | Mediterranean Fever | Director, writer | |
| 2024 | Upshot | Director, writer | Drama |
Awards and Nominations
Maha Haj's films have won many awards and have been nominated for others.
| Year | Nominated work | Category | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Best Film, Haifa International Film Festival | Won | |
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Caméra d'Or, Cannes Film Festival | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Best Film, International Film Festival of India | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Special Mention – International Feature Film, Zurich Film Festival | Won | |
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Golden Eye – Best International Feature Film, Zurich Film Festival | Nominated | |
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Critics' Award, Montpellier Film Festival | Won | |
| 2016 | Personal Affairs | Best Debut Feature, Philadelphia Film Festival | Won | |
| 2022 | Mediterranean Fever | Un Certain Regard Best Screenplay Prize, 2022 Cannes Film Festival | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Maha Haj para niños
