Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nay Tabbara. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nay, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Ebb & Flow, my short film, is the most meaningful project I’ve undertaken.
It’s a deeply personal exploration of growing up in Lebanon, not based on a true story, but rooted in the shared experiences of balancing political turmoil and catastrophes with the joys of adolescence.
The film was incredibly difficult to make for many reasons. On a personal level, writing, directing, producing and editing it forced me to confront happy and traumatic memories. Especially when I had to edit a scene with an explosion and listen to it over and over again. On a practical level, we filmed in Beirut in summer 2022, amidst the financial crisis’s peak, the aftermath of the 2020 explosion, and severe electricity shortages. Keeping the production afloat was a monumental task, but the crew’s unwavering commitment was extraordinary. They understood the story, having lived versions of it themselves, and they each brought their version to set, caring deeply about the characters and understanding what it will take to elevate the film.
This collective effort and true filmmaking collaboration is what makes the Ebb & Flow experience so significant for me. And I have been very grateful about the film’s positive reception during its festival journey around the world.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a writer, director, and editor, born and raised in Lebanon. After working in Lebanon as an Assistant Director for a couple of years and building a significant on-set experience, I moved to NYC in 2017 to pursue an MFA in Filmmaking from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where I now teach editing as a Visiting Professor and help lead the post-production department.
My films have received recognition at numerous international festivals, including Tribeca, El Gouna, Palm Springs, Tampere, Flickerfest and many others, and many organizations like the Sundance Institute, the Doha Film Institute, and The Future Of Film is Female. But beyond writing and directing, I also have a deep passion for editing; I see it as the final, crucial stage of storytelling. Films I’ve edited have screened and won awards at prestigious festivals such as Locarno, Clermont-Ferrand, Austin and Woodstock.
I proudly identify as a Lebanese multihyphenate filmmaker. My country, identity, and history are fundamental to who I am and have profoundly shaped my artistic voice. I believe that understanding multiple facets of filmmaking is essential for a successful storyteller, as narratives are crafted at every stage of making a movie..
Beyond my artistic path, my upbringing in Beirut inherently wove activism and politics into my worldview. I’ve come to realize that art is an inescapable form of self-expression and a vital reflection of our awareness of the world. Films, books, poems, and music served as my earliest education about the world.
Ultimately, I am a storyteller at heart. My work is driven by the humanity I observe daily, aiming to portray authentic interactions while allowing the magic and mysteries of life to unfold. Whether writing and directing my own films or collaborating on projects as an editor, my goal is to tell stories that resonate universally, regardless of their specific setting.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the greatest reward from being an artist comes from the act of creating, placing me (or artists in general) in immediate contact and constant exploration of our environment. It’s about taking what I observe in the world, reflecting deeply on it, and then turning those contemplations into art. My creative work almost always tackles the very questions I’m personally wrestling with.
Being a creative is more than a profession; it’s a way of life. It is a demanding lifestyle that offers unparalleled richness. It means being consistently exposed to new ideas, always learning, evolving and pushing the boundaries of our thinking. It is an ongoing journey of discovery about the world and oneself.

Can you share the story of a time when you had to pivot (in business, career or life).

In my early 20s, a few years after completing my undergraduate studies, I was working as an Assistant Director in Lebanon. My career was really taking off, I was learning and proving myself on every set I worked on. But I always had a deeper ambition: to tell my own stories. I knew I wanted to pursue higher education and hone my craft as a filmmaker. It was this yearning that led me to apply to grad film schools.

I got accepted into NYU. I was very happy when I heard the news, but that meant I had to make a decision. Do I stay in Lebanon where my career was flourishing, and I was home surrounded by friends and family? Or do I leave everything behind and move to New York to chase a lifelong dream? The decision weighed heavily on me, but deep down I knew this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I couldn’t pass up. I owed it to myself to nurture my own stories and train to become the filmmaker I always wanted to be.

Looking back, I’m incredibly grateful I made that leap. Years later, New York has become a second home. While staying true to my culture, background and identity, I’ve changed significantly, grown in the filmmaking world, and created a community here in NYC and through NYU that never fails to inspire me and help me grow. It was a daunting pivot, but one that has profoundly shaped who I am as a filmmaker.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.naytabbara.com
• Instagram: @naytabbara

Image Credits

Headshot photographed by Eli Percy.
Poster of Ebb & Flow by Lina Khoury
Black & White picture standing with cast members by Mohamad Alayan