“BornStars,” a catchy comedy about five cash-strapped students who start making porn movies in Beirut, is set to premiere in the Lebanese capital today followed by a theatrical rollout across the Middle East.
“BornStars” marks the directorial debut of Caroline Labaki, sister of prominent helmer Nadine Labaki (“Capernaum”) and is produced by Los Angeles-based producers Chady Eli Mattar and Scott C. Silver.
Set in present-day Beirut, the comedy follows five misfit friends who react to the impact of Lebanon‘s economic meltdown by launching what, according to the synopsis, is Lebanon’s first adult website “only to spark a revolution of freedom, rebellion and self-expression.”
In truth, Lebanese law does not censor nudity or online pornography. Pornhub and many other adult websites are among the top 50 most-visited websites in the country, according to the Global Information Society Watch website.
Which may be why “BornStars” — which does not actually feature on-screen nudity — is now set to roll out on more than 40 Lebanese screens starting Sept. 18 via local distributor Berytus Pictures, in what is a wide release for an indie film in Lebanon. Vox Cinemas subsequently plans to distribute “BornStars” throughout the Middle East and North Africa in what will be a boundary-pushing operation from a censorship standpoint that will be interesting to watch.
Meanwhile, the “BornStars” marketing machine is in full gear with one of the largest social media marketing campaigns for a film in the region. The film’s poster dropped in theaters and online in early August generating over 900,000 hits, followed two days later by the trailer (see below), which has since scored 3.4 million views. An Instagram spot has garnered 2.4 million hits so far. Local social media influencers were shown the movie on Sept. 2 and have since generated more than 7 million hits, according to a statement.
“For me, it’s vital to make films that speak to the younger generation,” Caroline Labaki said in a statement. “Our region is saturated with heavy dramas that mirror our struggles, but cinema can also be about joy, laughter, and collective release. With ‘BornStars,’ I wanted to give audiences something that entertains, surprises and lets them breathe.”
Commented producer Chady Eli Mattar: “What makes ‘BornStars’ stand out isn’t just its audacious premise, it’s the way it was made and where.”
“This is the first Lebanese feature to be produced and released on such a massive scale, with a Hollywood-style P&A campaign, a red-carpet premiere, and distribution spanning more than 40 screens across the country,” he added, further noting that “it’s also the first Lebanese film to reflect the authentic way people in Beirut speak, seamlessly weaving English, Arabic and French in a trilingual dialogue that feels at once chaotic and true to life.”
Watch the “BornStars” trailer below.
