Even if they are outside their country, the creators of Lebanon add a remarkable artistic touch to their works of any kind to make them distinguished in the Arab world, in light of successive crises that prevent them from creating in their country, which suffers from chaos and instability.

Among them is the Lebanese director Milad Abi Raad, who won the award for the best Lebanese director more than once, in addition to many other awards for his famous programs that he directed on the Egyptian station “Cairo and the People”, where Abi Raad has been supervising the channel since 2011. .

In an exclusive interview with “Sky News Arabia”, Abi Raad spoke about his career, his work and his “strangeness”, and said: “The Egyptian media, Tariq Nour, invited me 20 years ago to implement several programs in Egypt, the first of which was (Star Maker), the musician and artist, who gained wide fame. It was presented by the star Amir Karara.

He continued, “After that, I continued to implement annual Ramadan programs in Cairo that were broadcast on the second Egyptian channel, until the decision was taken in 2012 to launch the broadcast of the station (Cairo and the People) throughout the year, after its activity since 2009 was limited to broadcasting special programs in the month of Ramadan only. I received an offer to take over the task of directing the daily programs at the station, to start my continuing career there.”

Abi Raad added: “In the beginning, we presented many programs that won the public’s admiration, including unique programs with the journalist friend Tony Khalifa, and 5 years ago we launched the (Genius) program with the owner of insightful ideas, the media, Issam Youssef, and is based on motivating students and families within competitions. Variety, as well as the (Sheikh Al-Hara) program in all its seasons achieved great success, as for the (Ink Secret) program that we launched recently and presented by the media, Asma Ibrahim, it hosts a group of great Arab stars such as Hani Shaker, Saber Al-Rubai, Ahmed Al-Sakka, Ragheb Alama, Asala, Hassan Al-Raddad and others.

Abi Raad won the award for the best Lebanese and Arab director at the Arab Satellite TV Festival for 5 consecutive years. He has many directorial works such as “Love Me,” “Talibin Al-Qarb,” “From the Sweetest Homes of Ras Beirut,” “Familia,” and “Family.” Between Beirut and Dubai”, and other works that bore his signature.

Abi Raad revealed that he is preparing special programs for the month of Ramadan 2022, including “Sheikh Al-Hara”, the sixth season, and the “Ink Secret” program.

He added to “Sky News Arabia”: “I was very affected by my country, Lebanon, I was born in the war, I lived my life in the war, and the parents worked hard to provide us with education in schools and universities.”

But Abi Raad does not see himself in exile during his stay in Cairo, but rather feels that he is in his second country, where he says: “I do not consider myself an immigrant in Egypt, but I am settled in my country, and I hope that my family will join me to live together, especially in these circumstances in which he lives.” Lebanon. If I felt a harsh alienation, I would not be able to live in Cairo.”

Abi Raad continued: “I chose success in work at the expense of success in other matters, so I chose Egypt, in which I gained very close friends.”

Abi Raad believes that “with the return of things to their normal course in Lebanon and the improvement of the political situation in the country, the appropriate atmosphere may be created for the production of Lebanese programmes.”

And he sent a message to the Lebanese youth, including his daughter, director and actress Rayan Abi Raad, to confront the dead end in Lebanon, saying: “We can achieve success wherever it is. Try through the Internet and social networking sites because creativity is not limited to television only, but can be achieved through other means. Modern communication, and in any country, whatever the circumstances.

He concluded his speech by addressing Arab youth, saying: “Use your mobile device positively to invent and invest ideas, and make it a bridge to television and digital platforms, and I pray to God to protect Lebanon and its youth and to pass this crisis so that our country returns as a beacon to the East.”