FINIKIA Music Competition 2025
The preparatory committee of the film FINIKIA organized the closing ceremony of the music composition competition inspired by Phoenician civilization, held at the auditorium of Notre Dame University–Louaize (Zouk Mosbeh).
Student Category:
First Prize: Jean Ghanem – USD 2,000 and an opportunity to meet the international composer in London
Second Prize: Karim Chemaly – USD 1,000 and an opportunity to meet the international composer
Third Prize: Georges Sawan – USD 500 and a professional artistic evaluation by the jury
Professional Category:
Diamond Prize: Jad Moussan – collaboration with the international composer in London as part of the film’s music composition team, with a monthly salary throughout the production period
The event concluded with the distribution of certificates and awards, as well as the presentation of commemorative trophies to the members of the jury.
Lebanese Leaders and Institutions Express Support for the Hollywood Film Titled FINIKIA (Phoenicia)
Beirut – The FINIKIA film, an international production set in Phoenicia 480 BCE, continues to gain wide national and international support and acclaim as its producers meet with top Lebanese officials and religious leaders:
President of Lebanon, General Joseph Aoun, received International executive producer Oscar Zoghbi and local producer Father Johnny Saba. President Aoun stressed the importance of completing the film and expressed his full backing for the project.
Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Bechara Boutros Al-Rai welcomed the FINIKIA film delegation and offered his blessings, highlighting the role of purposeful art in showcasing Lebanon’s message to the world.
Sheikh Ali Al-Khatib, Deputy Head of the Supreme Islamic Shiite Council, praised the FINIKIA film for promoting Lebanon’s beauty and coexistence, underscoring the importance of art in conveying history and values that safeguard the future of Lebanon.
Patriarch Youssef Absi, head of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, received the team at the Patriarchal residence in Rabweh, congratulating them and offering his blessings as filming is about to begin in Lebanon.
Sheikh Sami Abou Al-Mona, the spiritual leader (Sheikh al-Aql) of the Druze community, hosted the delegation at the Druze Community House in Verdun, and endorsed the cultural project.
A delegation from the FINIKIA film met with Minister of Tourism Laura El Khazen Lahoud, who expressed her full cooperation, praised the idea of filming in Lebanon, and placed all the ministry’s resources at the project’s disposal to ensure its success.
At the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, the FINIKIA film delegation met with Cultural Affairs Officer Evelyn Garrity and Public Diplomacy Officer Tina Ziegenhain. The discussions focused on coordinating with Lebanese security agencies to ensure the safety of the American cast and crew. Garrity and Ziegenhain welcomed the project and affirmed the Embassy’s support for its successful completion.
The team also met with Minister of National defence, Major General Michel Menassa, followed by a meeting with Army Commander General Rudolf Haykal at the Ministry of Defence in Yarze. Both officials expressed their full cooperation in facilitating the production and ensuring the safety of the film cast and crew.
The FINIKIA delegation also met Minister of Interior Ahmad Al-Hajjar, who pledged support and emphasized the ministry’s commitment to crew safety - especially for foreign members - and to facilitating the film’s success.
A delegation from the international film FINIKIA met with Metropolitan Elias Audi of Beirut, representing Patriarch John X Yazigi of the Greek Orthodox Church.
Metropolitan Audi gave his blessing to the project, noting that his hometown of Anfeh, in northern Lebanon, is home to significant Phoenician remains.
Acting Governor of North Lebanon, Ms. Iman Al-Rafei, welcomed the FINIKIA delegation, praising the choice of North of Lebanon as a filming location and emphasizing the project’s contribution to promoting Lebanese culture, tourism, and opportunities for young talent.
The FINIKIA film is set to highlight Lebanon’s historical and cultural role through the story of the Phoenicians, reinforcing the country’s image as a land of heritage, creativity, and resilience.