Artists in residence

Djamel Kerkar is a scriptwriter and director born in 1987 in Algers, Algeria. After studying economics and working as an animator and a programmer at the Chrysalis Cineclub, Djamel Kerkar studied cinema at ESAV, the Higher School of Visual Arts in Marrakech. He directed two short films: Earth is full of ghosts and Archipel. Djamel Kerkar has worked and collaborated on several fiction and documentary film projects, as well as art films and video installations with other artists.

Atlal is his first feature film, which received the Premier Prize at FID Marseille 2016, as well as two special mentions: that of the GNCR and that of international online critics. Atlal has also been selected in more than 40 festivals and has been released in France. 

Djamel Kerkar develops several projects in hybrid forms and explores the idea of memory mapping. His new film Luciole dans le noir du temps is in development. He is the winner of the CNC Innovation Fund and the Cnap Image/Movement Fund.

Michelle Keserwany is a Lebanese singer, musician and scriptwriter.

At the age of 21, Michelle Keserwany released her first satirical song, seen more than a million times on Youtube. Since then, she and her sister Noel have composed many other songs, with sharp lyrics that criticize corruption and dysfunctions in her country. Their videos are viral and the two sisters now have a loyal audience.

Michelle Keserwany is often invited to television sets and her songs have been covered by opposition groups.

Its participation is also sought to support national defence campaigns, including that for the safeguarding of the last Lebanese public beaches in autumn 2016. She is committed to defending women’s rights.

At the same time, she was spotted by director Nadine Labaki who recruited her to co-write the script for her latest feature film Capharnaüm (Jury Prize – Cannes 2018; In competition for the best foreign film at the Oscars, Césars and BAFTA 2019; Best Screenplay Prize at the Stockholm International Festival 2018).

In 2017, Michelle Keserwany started writing a short animated film script, Rou’ya, on her own. This project is now in the financing phase.

Michelle Keserwany is also developing an animated feature film script, Ouzkourini.

Noel Keserwany is a multidisciplinary artist from Lebanon. A writer, director and performer who grew up in Lebanon amidst socio-political turmoil. For 10 years, she and her sister Michelle have been producing viral socio-political music videos based on carefully analyzed content to address daily struggles. Their use of humor and satire has made them known for their political art.

Noel Keserwany is currently writing and directing a feature-length socio-political documentary called À Feu Doux with her sister, produced between France and Lebanon. She is also working on a personal animated short film based on a story about emigration by the great Lebanese writer Emilie Nasrallah.

Her residency at the Cité internationale des arts is supported by the Lebanon Institut français.