In Loving Memory: Mr. Marwan Najjar ‘65

It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Mr. Marwan Najjar at the age of 76 years old. Mr. Najjar was a renowned director, scriptwriter, copywriter, and producer in Lebanon and has been a major part of famous productions across the nation.

Mr. Najjar graduated from AUB in 1969 with a major in Comparative Literature and Education. In his years as an undergraduate student, he pursued many creative and written projects such as writing, directing, and producing plays at the university. He even worked closely with Kifah Fakhoury, now a revered musicologist in the Arab world, on an outdoor musical show titled “AUB 1910”. The show was a hit, and was given positive reviews by the press.

In the midst of his doctoral studies, Mr. Najjar shifted his focus to a career in journalism. He became a part of the Al Usbu’ Al Arabi (Arab Week) magazine, and also had a role on the team of the weekly publication, Al Diyar. Particularly during the years of the Lebanese Civil War, Mr. Najjar reported on various socio-political affairs.

After establishing a career in writing and journalism, Mr. Najjar eventually transitioned into scriptwriting in 1977, after meeting star Hind Abillama and her husband, director Antoine S. Remi. He had the opportunity to work on drama episodes, and eventually produced and aired his first series, “Dyala”, in 1978. This was the start of Mr. Najjar’s bright career as a producer.

Mr. Najjar still maintained his passion for education during his filmmaking career. He obtained a teaching diploma from AUB, and found a way to create educational content through his series such as the quiz show, Al Moutafawikoun, and a literary documentarydrama based on literature and the biographies of historic figures. He also created a comedy series with an Arabic grammar teacher character named Ustad Mandour, who became a beloved figure for humorous and strict teaching admired by educators and students alike.

Mr. Najjar spent several years adapting popular plays, creating original plays, and producing and directing dramas, comedies, and cultural series. Particularly in the 90s, he was back to making dramas and series for the month of Ramadan. He continued working on acclaimed series throughout the following years, but by 2011, he stopped producing and instead continued with script writing instead.

Mr. Najjar’s work was foundational to the film and TV industry in Lebanon. He created renowned cultural hits, and brought quality and meaningful productions to the country. His work is cherished, and he will truly be missed. IC faculty and staff send their deepest condolences to the Najjar family.