THE BACKSTORY

I'm Charbel, a filmmaker shaped by light, color, and the quiet magic of storytelling.
My story begins long before my career did. At 11, I existed in the worlds I watched on screen. Mornings blurred into nights as I devoured everything from Manga epics to timeless classics, studying every frame without even realizing it. Whenever I could get my hands on a camcorder, I rounded up my friends, turning rooftops and side streets into movie sets. We made over 30 short films, imperfect, chaotic, but absolutely thrilling. Those moments lit the fire that still drives me today.

That fire later led me to the Filmmaking program at USEK University in Beirut in 1996. Five years later, in 2001, I graduated with distinction and was armed with a Master’s degree, a growing passion, and a determination to tell stories with meaning. My early years were spent directing, shooting, and editing narrative films, trailers, and TV shows across Lebanon’s vibrant, ever-evolving film community.

2008 changed everything. I moved to Dubai, further into the world of post-production, and fell in love with Color Grading. It became the bridge between my technical side and my artistic one, the place where emotion meets precision. As the chief editor, colorist, and post-production supervisor at Montage TV Production, I have collaborated with major agencies and global brands like Impact BBDO, Leo Burnett, JWT, Audi, Nissan, P&G, Samsung, and others whose standards shaped my craft.

Along the way, recognitions have followed-most notably Best Picture and Best Art Direction at the DQFF Film Festival (2004), a Cannes Lions Bronze (2017), and a Dubai Lynx Grand Prix (2017). For me, awards aren't the destination, but a reflection of my intimate passion and dedication to the craft. 

Now, 25 years into the industry, that exact feeling I had as a kid with a borrowed camera, curiosity, excitement, and the notion that every frame matters, remains one I chase to this day. I specialize in color, editing, and workflow design, merging creative vision with cutting-edge technology. I’m always on the lookout for new tools, pushing boundaries, and even building my own visual effects solutions to elevate the images I work with.

This is my journey. If your story is waiting to be told, I'd love to help bring it to the screen.