Kash Kash - without feathers we can't live

Synopsis

My hometown, Beirut, is torn apart by a corrupt political elite, anti-government protests, and one of the biggest explosions of the 21st century. But above the roofs of the city, I discovered an unexpected bearer of hope: the pigeon game of chance "Kash Hamam".
Every evening, the sky populates, and all over the city swarms fly out of their cages. Their flight follows the choreography of an ancient tradition. Each player holds their own flock and lets it circle over his house, with the chance to lure the pigeons of the neighbors onto his roof to expand his flock.
During the recent political collapse of Lebanon, we embark on a journey from roof to roof. When it all perishes, why do we hold on to flying? The film observes a city in turmoil from the perspective of three pigeon players and a young girl fighting to release her own birds.

Director Biography

Lea Najjar, born in 1994 in Vienna, grew up in Beirut and graduated high school from the City International School in Beirut. She then completed her Freshman degree at the American University of Beirut (A.U.B) in 2013. During her school years, she worked as a press photographer. From 2014 she studied at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and finished her Diploma in documentary directing with her first feature film “Kash Kash” in 2021. “Kash Kash” celebrated its world premiere at the CPH: DOX in Copenhagen where it won the NEXT:Wave Competition for best debut and emerging filmmaker from the international scene.