A puzzle in which words are represented by combinations of pictures
and individual letters;
for instance, apex might be represented by a picture of an
ape followed by the letter X.
(The New Oxford English Dictionary)
We see films as combinations of images, sounds and texts that
convey a larger meaning.
This is why we decided to call our production company Rebus.
Vatche
Boulghourjian
Vatche Boulghourjian is a filmmaker and video artist based in
Beirut and New York. Much of his work focuses on questions of
identity, and political and social narratives of the Middle East.
He has directed, shot, and edited several documentaries, dramatic
shorts and experimental films.
In addition to his independent work, Boulghourjian has worked as a
freelance cameraman and editor on documentaries about the Middle
East for PBS, BBC, CBC, and other television networks. He has
worked throughout the Middle East, including Iraq, Saudi Arabia,
Syria and Lebanon.
Boulghourjian holds a Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude in
International Relations from the University of Southern California
(USC), and a Master of Science degree in International Relations
from the London School of Economics (LSE). He recently received his
Master of Fine Arts degree from the Graduate Film Program at New
York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His thesis film,
Hinkerort Zorasune (The Fifth Column), was awarded a
production grant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association
(HFPA) and was officially selected by the Cinéfondation program of
the Festival De Cannes (2010).
Vatche Boulghourjian currently focuses on feature-length, narrative
fiction, writing and filmmaking.
Mahalia Cohen Mahalia
Cohen was born in Portland, Oregon. Raised by a single mother, she
began attending medical school with her at age 4 and spent much of
her young life in a hospital. From an early age she knew that she
wanted to make films. After graduating with honors from Bryn Mawr
College with a degree in Spanish literature and sculpture, she
returned to her first love. She completed a directing workshop at
EICTV in San Antonio de los Baños, Cuba in 2000. In 2009 she
graduated with an MFA from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Graduate film program.
At NYU, Mahalia wrote and directed seven short films. In addition,
she produced several award winning shorts, and was granted an award
for her producing work on The Edge of Town directed by
Chris Ciancimino. Her documentary short, Homer, about
dancer Homer Avila, was a regional finalist for the Student Academy
Awards. Mahalia later completed a longer version of this
documentary. This film, Balance, premiered at Visions du
Reel, in Nyon, Switzerland in 2009 and was shown as part of the
Niet Normaal exhibition in The Netherlands.
She is currently working on several writing, editing and directing
projects, including a feature script set in Beirut, Lebanon.
Her work deals with themes of migration, disability and loss.
To find out more about Mahalia’s independent work visit her site
here.