Edwin Bainou
Edwin El Bainou is a filmmaker, sound designer and artist from Beirut, Lebanon who directed THE OPEN WATER SWIM TRAVERSE, a 10-minute film about a team of 6 swimmers who swim 180 km from Cyprus to Batroun, Lebanon to raise awareness on plastic use and its impact on the Mediterranean Sea and the world.
Award
The Open Water Swim Traverse was the winner of BEST SHORT FILM at the February 2021 WILDsound FEEDBACK Film Festival.
Traverse Swimmers, Crew & Sponsors
33-year-old Soumaya Merhi (TAQA Snacks founder), 40-year-old Jad El Ghosn, 36-year-old Diane Boulos, 59-year-old Mary Anne Reese Ballouz, 44-year-old May El Timani, and 45-year-old Martin Mougharbil completed the first open water non-stop relay swim from Cyprus to Lebanon finishing in 51 hours 50 minutes on 19 October 2019.
The crew that assisted and supported the team included filmmaker Edwin El Bainou, medical assistance Doctor Elianne Khoury, and escort pilots Adel Assal, Joseph Boulos, and Ziad Salhab with sponsorship and collaboration by Exocet Sailing, Batroun Municipality, Maroun N. Chammas Recognition Award, MTV Lebanon, Batroun Festival, LWIS School, IM Capital, Clemenceau Medical Center, and Bolero Batroun.
TAQA
As part of TAQA’s ongoing environmental activism, The Open Water Swim Traverse was organized and produced by TAQA. TAQA is a Lebanese bakery offering a selection of healthy and plant-based oat cookies and energy bars. TAQA boosted the swim by providing the adequate snacks and nutrients needed, and also produced a short-movie covering the swim and the environmental cause.
Video
