Bridge Summit 2025: Bassam Kousa And Eyad Nassar Explore The Essence Of Acting Through Authenticity

At the Bridge Summit 2025 in Abu Dhabi, actors Bassam Kousa and Eyad Nassar shared insights into the art of acting. They emphasised that authenticity and genuine human depth are crucial for a compelling performance. The session, titled ‘Presence Is the Actor’s Invisible Chemistry,’ explored how an actor's presence is shaped by authenticity, awareness, and lived experiences.

Kousa, a prominent figure in Arab cinema and drama, discussed the philosophical aspects of acting. He believes that good and evil are intertwined human values that actors must understand to portray characters effectively. His extensive background in visual arts has enhanced his perception of form, movement, and colour, which he applies to his work in film, television, theatre, and directing.

Nassar offered a different perspective on acting as a means to explore deeper questions about humanity. He finds complex characters with moral ambiguity more intriguing than purely virtuous roles. This complexity allows for richer exploration and understanding of human nature. Nassar mentioned that confronting a character's darker aspects can be unsettling but is part of an actor’s duty.

He highlighted that audiences seek truth rather than emotional sincerity from performances. According to Nassar, honesty is expected from actors, not perfection. Breaking this unspoken agreement with the audience can lessen the impact of a role. He also stressed the importance of diverse roles in an actor's career.

Kousa noted how his visual arts training has sharpened his understanding of aesthetics and dramatic structure. This background helps him analyse characters deeply and present them authentically on screen and stage. Audiences can easily discern between performances crafted with care and those that feel forced.

Nassar echoed this sentiment by acknowledging how his early visual arts education continues to influence his approach to constructing characters. He believes that variety in roles enriches an actor’s craft by offering different perspectives and challenges.

Summit Highlights

The Bridge Summit 2025 features over 300 sessions reflecting its scale and ambition. The inaugural edition will be held from 8–10 December 2025 at ADNEC in Abu Dhabi. This event aims to bring together industry professionals to discuss various aspects of film and television production.

The insights shared by Kousa and Nassar underscore the importance of authenticity in acting. Their discussion highlights how genuine performances resonate with audiences more effectively than those lacking depth or truthfulness.

With inputs from WAM