Beirut-based director Caroline Labaki has unveiled her latest feature film, BornStars, a bold comedy that tackles economic despair and societal taboos with irreverent humor. Produced by Shadi Elie Mater and Scott C Silve, the film follows five friends in Beirut on a madcap mission to make $7,000 in ten days.
Faced with the threat of failing his university installment, Lebanese-American student JD enlists his resourceful friends to hatch an audacious plan: launching Lebanon’s first adult film website. Drawing inspiration from cult comedies like Superbad and Risky Business, the film chronicles the group’s venture as it goes viral, stirring public debate and legal scrutiny.
Labaki stated that the film aims to fill a gap in Lebanese cinema. “Lebanese cinema has long told stories of war, memory, and survival. Yet the daily life of young adults has been largely unexplored,” she said. “BornStars portrays youth not as symbols, but as real people navigating the fragile space between adolescence and maturity amidst crises.”
The project, shot on location in Beirut during the post-COVID era and severe economic crisis, is described by producer Shadi Elie Mater as “a revolution in storytelling from the Middle East.” The film features an ensemble cast including Tony Elie Kanaan, Nour Hajar, Ziad Saliba, and Elie Najim.
Ultimately, BornStars is presented as a heartfelt depiction of friendship and resilience, using absurdity and internet culture to offer a nuanced portrait of a generation fighting to invent its own future. The film is set for distribution in Lebanon and Jordan by Berytus Films and carries an 18+ rating.
TunisianMonitorOnline (Douha Essafi)
