The Kaleidoscope Of Leila Kanaan

Rarely does it happen in today’s video visual frenzy when an artist is able to transform your visual intake into a magical world of exquisite beauty. In a region that plays by its own ever so contradicting rules, and an industry that’s so violent in imposing certain trends for the masses, one young woman was able to dictate her own visual agenda against all odds, marching to her own beat. She decided to rule the visuals so swiftly that people have been welcomingly staggered with how beautifully effortless her artistry is, as melodic as her own name. Leila Kanaan.

The young Lebanese filmmaker is probably the Middle East/North Africa’s best kept secret in tailoring her own visions into her lavish yet carefully selected list of music videos. Leila took the music video industry into her own hands, revamped the cliché typical picture frame audiences were used to, and delivered an art of visual story telling harmonized with music that’s as delicate yet rich as a cashmere canvas.

From the typical love stories we all watch with a heavy heart, to fantasy and fun to even a touch of old burlesque, Leila’s work is original, authentic and never boring. Those who are familiar with middle eastern music video’s will notice that there is constantly a sense of déjà and similarity between each clip, however Leila’s talent in bringing things to life on camera in a very romantic and unique way has never been done before. With her creative and visionary talent, she managed to break down barriers and limits that have been long misunderstood or almost, tabooed to tap into. She managed to bring burlesque to life through Haifa Wehbe’s Mat’olsh Lehad by transforming Haifa’s stereotypical call girl image into a burlesque queen. She took Yara’s shy girl next door persona & made her a brunette Bette Davis in Twasa Feye, a tail from the golden era that Leila has proven to be the undisputed inspired queen of this haunting, mysterious, yet glamorous visual era.

Leila took female liberation and recognition of sensuality to an entire more profound yet sentiment level. In Nancy Ajram’s Mashi Hadi, and Haifa Wehbe’s Baba Fein, Leila crossed paths with fantasy, a genre which was completely new and unheard of within the Middle East. Her ability to create a colorful dream world of life wowed her clients and gave viewers a sense of nostalgia to the dreams of their childhood.

With stories of love and heartache, triumph and defeat, war and peace, Leila is undoubtedly the most talented director on the radar. Her talents are not only visually magnificent and consuming, but she manages to transform her clients into creatures of exquisite beauty and tell their story in a stunning exhibition. Leila’s work always feels like a film that lasts forever, her commitment to detail and quality never falters and has people on the edge of their seats waiting for more, time after time. Her work with numerous heavy weights in the Middle Eastern region continues to grow and never fails to impress. Many of her clients were not satisfied with one experience and later stood in line for a second and third collaboration with the revolutionary artist.

Leila has slowly but surely climbed the ladder to fame and has now become the object of those who try to replicate her ideas and revelations but undoubtedly fail. Her work has revived the realm of imagination and dreams that was once lost in the hearts and minds of people across the Middle East. Her work is remarkable, beautiful and unsurpassed and Leila Kanaan is here to stay. One can only imagine how her first long feature film will unfold to be like, as it will mark the beginning of a new journey in her sizzling career, surely to break out worldwide. And oh how the world needs the kaleidoscope of Leila Kanaan.

Check out Leila Kanaan’s work @ www.leilakanaan.com