Wissam Smayra

Wissam Smayra (; born April 8, 1974) is a Lebanese film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is known for directing the comedy-drama film Perfect Strangers (2022), as well as being an executive producer on Academy Award for Best Foreign Film nominated Capernaum (2018). Wissam Smayra was born in Beirut, Lebanon on April 8, 1974. His formative years were defined by the harsh realities of conflict as he grew up in war-ravaged neighborhoods. His family home became a casualty of bombings, shaping the backdrop of his upbringing. These turbulent experiences during the war laid the groundwork for his resilience and artistic inclination. Despite the adversity, he found solace in storytelling, a coping mechanism that would ultimately pave the way for his future career as a prolific and diversified director. After completing his studies in film in Beirut, Smayra began his career in the advertising industry. He initially served as a creative director for Beirut-based agencies overseeing projects in the MENA region before transitioning into directing his own advertisements. This unveiled his distinctive style and innovative approach, as he soared to become one of the most prolific ad directors in the region with over 700 TV commercials since 2001. Smayra is credited in the industry with having paved the way for a new generation of Lebanese and Arab commercial directors. His work garnered numerous accolades at prestigious events including Cannes Lions, the Epica Awards, and Dubai Lynx, consolidating his standing as an eminent figure in the industry. Smayra collaborated with prominent brands such as Vodafone, Pepsi-Cola, Garnier - L'Oréal, and Cartier. These campaigns featured notable personalities such as Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabry, Egyptian actress Menna Shalabi, Egyptian model-actress Tara Emad, Lebanese actress Razane Jammal, Egyptian football player Mohamed Aboutrika, Egyptian musician Tamer Hosny, Lebanese singer and actress Myriam Fares, Egyptian actor Hussein Fahmy, Moroccan football player Abdeslam Ouaddou, among others. In 2023, Smayra directed the holy Ramadan advertising campaign for Cartier, featuring Tunisian-Egyptian actress Hend Sabry, Tunisian actor Dhafer L'Abidine, Egyptian model-actress Tara Emad, Egyptian actor Ahmed Malek and entrepreneur Anas Bukhash. Smayra has directed music videos for various artists, including Ragheb Alama and Jean-Jacques Goldman.