Nadine Labaki (born February 18, 1974) is a Lebanese actress, writer, and director. Before directing films, Labaki started out as one of the well known directors in the Arabic music video industry. Inspired by growing up during the Lebanese Civil War, Labaki is known for demonstrating everyday aspects of Lebanese life and covering a range of political issues such as war, poverty, and feminism in her work. She is the first female Arab director to direct a film nominated for an Oscar in the category for Best Foreign