Experiencing Interruptions?

The Past is Calling

Reem, a domestic abuse hotline operator, has to convince a young caller to report the violence in her house. But their similar family background makes Reem’s job harder.

  • Perla Geagea
    Director
  • Perla Geagea
    Writer
  • Perla Geagea
    Producer
  • Perla Geagea
    Key Cast
    "Reem"
  • Kristen
    Key Cast
    "Cynthia"
  • Maria Saade
    Key Cast
    "Katy"
  • Melhem Abi Farah
    Director of Photography
  • Aurélie Beyrouthy
    Assistant Director
  • Christina Klat
    Assistant Director
  • Yasmina Choueiri
    Art Director
  • Sacha Daher
    Art Director
  • Sacha Daher
    Script Supervisor
  • Samir Moukheiber
    Script Supervisor
  • Claritta Ghattas
    Sound Engineer
  • Perla Geagea
    Editor
  • Perla Geagea
    Sound designer
  • Project Type:
    Short, Student
  • Genres:
    Drama, Thriller
  • Runtime:
    11 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 4, 2024
  • Production Budget:
    2,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Lebanon
  • Country of Filming:
    Lebanon
  • Language:
    Arabic
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    1.85
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    Yes - Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
  • 29th European Film Festival in Lebanon
    Beirut
    Lebanon
    May 3, 2025
    Short Film Competition
  • Ischia Film Festival 23rd edition
    Ischia
    Italy
    June 30, 2025
    Location Negata
  • AFRIFF 13th edition
    Lagos
    Nigeria
    November 4, 2024
    Student Shorts
  • 9th Nepal International Film Festival
    Kathmandu
    Nepal
    April 5, 2026
    Student Shorts
  • 9th edition of the Lebanon Cinema Days in Canada
    Montréal
    Canada
    October 3, 2025
    Official Selection
  • Emisferi CineFest 4th edition
    Roma
    Italy
    November 22, 2025
    Short Film Competition
  • Immagina Florence Film Festival 4th edition
    Florence
    Italy
    October 9, 2025
    Festival Finalists
  • FICIMAD 5th edition
    Madrid
    Spain
    March 22, 2025
    Best Thriller
Director Biography - Perla Geagea

Perla Geagea is a writer, director and actor whose work explores womanhood, trauma, and the pursuit of human connection and freedom.

She has completed her Bachelor’s degree in Cinema at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts in Beirut. Her senior film The Past is Calling has been and is still being screened in many national and international film festivals, including the 29th European Film Festival in Lebanon and Ischia Film Festival in Italy.

Perla is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Filmmaking at the same institution, and is preparing for her thesis film.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

As I’m drawn to female-centered stories, I decided to tackle the subject of domestic abuse in my first short film The Past is Calling. Unfortunately, not only is it still considered taboo to speak openly about it, but many women and children in my home country Lebanon and around the world continue to be affected.
While writing and directing this film, I made sure to never glamorize the violence, which led me to keep it completely off-screen. I also chose to tell the story through the main character, who’s a survivor of abuse, so that I can humanize her and make her reclaim agency over her own narrative.
Finally, I hope that my short film sparks reflections and conversations, so together we can challenge this silence and work toward ending this crime.