Qassem Istanbul, the founder of the Lebanese National Theatre, has been awarded the UNESCO-Sharjah Award for Arab Culture for its nineteenth edition. The award ceremony will take place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on June 26. This award is considered one of the most important international accolades, established in 1998 at the initiative of Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi to celebrate Arab creators and intellectuals.
The jury selected Istanbul for his contributions to rehabilitating several closed cinema halls in Lebanon, establishing many festivals, training workshops, film screenings, and art exhibitions, and activating the cultural movement in marginalized areas. He has also enhanced cultural development by opening independent cultural platforms and launching the "Art and Peace Bus" for touring performances in various regions. Additionally, he has played a significant role in broadening knowledge of art, fostering cultural dialogue, and reviving and promoting Arab culture globally.
Over the past 15 years, Istanbul has presented numerous theatrical works in more than 23 countries. He founded the "Istanbul Theatre" in 2008 and contributed to establishing the "Tiro Association for Arts" in 2014. Some of the theatrical works presented by the company include: "Go Ya Baba," "A Stroll in the Battlefield," "Zanqa Zanqa," "The Wall Experience," "The Black House," "Margins," "The Wall," "Tales from the Borders," "The Dictator's School," "People's Court," and "Waiting for Godot."
The troupe has participated in local and international festivals, winning the Best Work Award at the University Festival in Lebanon in 2009 and the Best Actor Award at the "Chaotic Rituals" Festival in Jordan in 2013. The play "The Wall Experience" was the first Arab work to compete in the official selection of the Almagro Festival in Spain in 2011. Istanbul also received the Best Arab Theatrical Personality Award at the Sharm El-Sheikh International Theatre Festival in Egypt in 2020, the Intercultural Achievement Award in Vienna for the Arab Culture and Arts Network project in 2021, and the Special Jury Prize at the Mansoura Theatre Festival in 2023.
