Maram: Between Shadow & Light
In 2017, a camera captured the fleeting innocence of Maram, a 13-year-old Syrian refugee selling flowers on the streets of Beirut. Two years later, she stepped into a role in a short narrative film that exposed the brutal realities of Lebanon’s gender-biased citizenship laws. Then, in 2020, she vanished.
Four years passed in silence—until late 2024, when Maram resurfaced with a story too devastating to ignore. Against the backdrop of war, we turned the lens on her once more, documenting the unimaginable hardships she endured.
Maram: Between Shadow & Light is not an easy film to watch. It is a testament to resilience, loss, and survival. Now, we fight to ensure her voice reaches the world—through film festivals, global platforms, and those who can offer her the help she desperately needs.
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Samer BeyhumDirectorMaram, Abandoned, The Spiral, A Syrian Story, Derives, La Chart des Distractions
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Josef KhalloufProducerLetters, VNV: An Essay on Existentialism, EITR, Go Home, The Key, Bonboné, Trumpets in the Sky
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Project Type:Documentary, Short
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Runtime:14 minutes 30 seconds
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Completion Date:January 29, 2025
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Production Budget:100 USD
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Country of Origin:Lebanon
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Country of Filming:Lebanon
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Language:Arabic
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Shooting Format:Digital
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Aspect Ratio:16:9
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:No
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Student Project:No
A Lebanese-Canadian polymath, excelling as a filmmaker, writer, director, editor, sound Designer & engineer, post-production specialist, technician, artist, filmmaking educator, and vegan chef. With a rich history of socially engaged cinema and a diverse body of work, Samer’s award-winning films tackle pressing social issues with authenticity and depth. His versatile interests extend to innovative pedagogy methods, socially relevant content creation, and the artistry of vegan cooking, embodying a holistic approach to education and ethical living. Through his creative endeavors, Samer inspires audiences worldwide to envision a more compassionate and inclusive future.
In 2017, I met Maram, a 13-year-old Syrian refugee selling flowers on the streets of Beirut. At that moment, she was just a child trying to survive in a city that barely noticed her. But through the lens, I saw something more—resilience, defiance, and a quiet hope. That’s why I made my first documentary about her.
Two years later, I cast her in a short narrative film exposing Lebanon’s gender-biased citizenship laws—laws that entrap young girls like Maram in cycles of statelessness and vulnerability. She wasn’t just acting; she was living the story. Then, in 2020, she disappeared.
Four years passed. I feared the worst. Then, in late 2024, she found me. The story she told was not the one I had hoped for. What she endured in those missing years—what she survived—was harrowing. As a filmmaker, I knew I had a responsibility. As a human being, I had no choice.
Maram: Between Shadow & Light is not just a documentary—it is a reckoning. It is about the ones we forget, the ones we leave behind, and the unbearable cost of being born in the wrong place at the wrong time. This film was shot while war raged in the background, an eerie reminder that Maram’s story is not an isolated one.
I don’t believe in filmmaking for spectacle. I believe in filmmaking as action. This film is not just about telling Maram’s story—it is about ensuring she is heard, about reaching those who can help, about making sure no one else disappears into the shadows.
I invite you to bear witness.