Award Winner Hadi Mousally, a Lebanese-French artist living in Paris and Barcelona shares his Queer Leadership Journey.
My Story and Journey.
My name is Hadi Moussally and I am a Lebanese-French filmmaker, photographer, and performer. My journey has always been shaped by movement—between cultures, identities, and artistic expressions. I was born in Lebanon, a place rich in culture, history and warmth but also filled with rigid societal norms, especially regarding queerness. Moving to France in search of creative and personal freedom, I spent years navigating what it meant to belong, only to realize that true belonging comes from within and from the communities we create. Today, I split my time between Paris and Barcelona, two cities that have given me the space to explore and express myself fully.
Growing up in Tripoli, a deeply conservative city, queerness was not something I saw represented in a positive light. I internalized the belief that being queer was something to hide. At 17, when I realized I was gay, I prayed to change. But as I evolved, so did my understanding of identity and self-worth. Over time, art became my language of resistance, celebration, and healing. It allowed me to navigate my multiple identities—Arab, queer, artist—without compromising any of them. Today, I use my work to challenge norms, amplify queer voices, and create spaces where others can see themselves represented.
My Work and Passion.
At the core of my work is a commitment to hybrid storytelling. Through my production company, h7o7, I create moving and still images that blend fashion, dance, experimental cinema, documentary and much more. In another way, it’s a hybrid genres. My work aims to disrupt conventions, challenge stereotypes, and offer nuanced representations of queer and Arab identities. To date, my films have been selected in over 400 festivals and have won more than 50 awards.
Beyond filmmaking, I also perform as my persona, Salma Zahore, where I merge belly dance and voguing—a tribute to both my SWANA heritage and queer ballroom culture. Through performance, I challenge gender norms and celebrate the fluidity of identity. Art, for me, is activism, and I embrace the term "artivist" because my work seeks not only to create beauty but to provoke thought, dialogue, and change.
Representation matters. Growing up, I didn’t see positive portrayals of queer Arabs. Today, I strive to change that. Whether through film, photography, or performance, I want to create work that makes young queer individuals—especially those from conservative backgrounds—feel seen, validated, and empowered.
My Leadership and WCS Connection.
Queer leadership, to me, means carving out spaces where others can exist authentically. It’s about challenging systemic barriers while nurturing communities of care and resistance. As a queer leader, I don’t just want to create art; I want to use my voice and visibility to uplift others, spark difficult but necessary conversations, and advocate for more inclusive spaces. I am an artivist against injustice. In another way, I use art as a form of activism to share light on all kind of injustices like homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia and much more.
Being part of the WCS community has been both affirming and inspiring. It connects me with other change-makers who are dedicated to making a difference. Whether through collaboration, mentorship, or sharing our stories, this network amplifies our collective impact.
To be recognized by WCS means having a platform that validates and celebrates the work I do, motivating me to push even further. - Hadi Mousally
Life Before & After Winning the Award.
Winning the WCS Queer Leaders Award in 2024 was a pivotal moment in my journey. It validated years of hard work and struggle, showing me that my story and my art resonate with others.
With increased visibility also comes new challenges. More recognition means more responsibility—to continue creating impactful work, to mentor emerging queer creatives, and to use my platform wisely. But these are challenges I welcome, as they push me to keep evolving.
My Vision for the Future.
Looking ahead, I envision expanding my work across different mediums and platforms. I want to create more films that explore intersectional queer identities, collaborate with artists from diverse backgrounds, and continue performing as Salma Zahore on larger international stages. I also hope to establish mentorship programs for queer Arab creatives, offering them the support I wish I had when I was younger.
Challenges remain, representation is still limited, funding for experimental and intersectional art is scarce, and queer Arab narratives often face resistance. But I believe in persistence, in community, and in the transformative power of storytelling. My journey as a queer leader is ongoing, and every step I take is driven by a deep commitment to visibility, advocacy, and artistic expression. The future is about building more bridges, breaking more barriers, and ensuring that the next generation of queer creatives finds a world that embraces them fully. And I am here for it.
Hadi Mousally (he/him)
Hadi is a dynamic Lebanese-French filmmaker, photographer, and performer. He holds two master's degrees from Paris universities in "Fiction Cinema" and "Documentary and Anthropological Cinema." As an artivist, Hadi uses his work in films, photos, and performances to expose social injustices such as homophobia, racism, sexism, transphobia, and more. His dedication to fighting against injustice is palpable in everything he creates. With an unwavering passion for his craft and a powerful message to share, Hadi is a force to be reckoned with in the world of art and activism.
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