Jihad Saade, born in 1989, is a Lebanese filmmaker whose cinematic journey began after completing his studies at Notre Dame University in 2012. Initially focusing on cinematography, Jihad contributed to over 100 projects, gradually nurturing his passion for storytelling.

His directorial debut came with a graduation film that earned the Best Student Film award at the Barcelona International Film Festival in 2012. Since then, Jihad has directed and co-directed several short-form videos, including documentaries and campaigns.

Notable highlights include receiving a residency from the Goethe Institute in 2015 to develop his first feature documentary and co-directing a short documentary that won the Audience Award at the Lebanese Film Festival in Canada in 2017.

Jihad's recent short film, "Not Far From Here," has screened at multiple festivals, including winning the Special Jury Prize at the Reef Festival in 2023. Additionally, "Diaries from Lebanon," a feature documentary he shot, screened at the Berlinale in 2024, offering a compelling glimpse into life in Lebanon. He is now finalizing a new feature documentary, "Shapes of Normal Human Beings," created in collaboration with filmmaker Salim Mrad, set to premiere later in 2024.

With over a decade of experience spanning various production genres, Jihad remains dedicated to using film as a medium to explore the human condition and shed light on important societal issues.