Director Amar Chebib Signs to Untitled Films
Director and documentary filmmaker Amar Chebib has joined Untitled Films for Canadian representation, bringing an immersive visual style and a gift for capturing personal narratives.
The Syrian-Canadian filmmaker began making videos while growing up as a skateboarder in the Middle East. Since then, his sensitive yet unsentimental documentary work has made him a rising talent in the genre.
His short documentary Joe Buffalo, about an Indigenous residential school survivor turned pro skateboarder, attracted Tony Hawk as an executive producer, and was widely considered an Oscar contender. His most recent short, TheRunner—which was acquired and released by The New Yorker—follows an Indigenous 20-year-old who ran a sub-zero 100-mile ultramarathon to raise awareness for mental illness and depression.
“Amar cares about the cause and effect of the idea as much as he does about the script itself, which is a rare quality,” says Tom Evelyn, partner and executive producer, Untitled Films. “He’s experienced and passionate about working with underrepresented and marginalized communities to tell their stories in an authentic and impactful way.”
Chebib’s commercial work includes documentary-style spots for Beats By Dre, Casper, Bank of America, the Canadian Cancer Society, and Square. Each encapsulates his striking cinematic eye and capacity to balance the wide array of components that give a story life.
“Brands need directors like Amar that want to make a difference with their work, and that level of thinking is very important to us as a company,” says Lexy Kavluk, Partner and Executive Producer. “You learn something through watching these films, and as a viewer you walk away feeling a little differently about the world.”
