Daniele Rugo

Daniele Rugo is Professor of Film at Brunel University London, affiliated with the Department of Theatre, Music and Film/TV in the College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences. He is an award-winning filmmaker and scholar whose work bridges documentary practice, film-philosophy, and conflict studies. His research explores the intersections of violence, memory, landscape, and environmental aesthetics, particularly in post-conflict Lebanon.

His research interests include:

• Documentary Film and Conflict (Theory and Practice)
• Film-Philosophy
• Landscape and Environmental Film
• Political Violence and Cinema
• Cinema and Memory

Rugo’s recent publications and films reflect a deep engagement with ethical and philosophical dimensions of documentary, especially in contexts of war and social fragmentation. His recent film The Soil and The Sea (2023) and earlier About a War (2018) use poetic and philosophical approaches to uncover hidden histories in everyday landscapes. His scholarly articles span journals such as Screen, Angelaki, and Third Text, often combining cinematic analysis with thinkers like Merleau-Ponty, Nancy, and Cavell.

His research has been supported by major grants from:

• Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
• Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (ESRC)
• British Academy (including GCRF)

Notable projects include Community-led Storytelling, Performing violence, engendering change, and Memories from the Margins, all focusing on peacebuilding and counter-narratives in Lebanon and Syria. He also leads work on renewable energy landscapes in North Yorkshire.

Rugo is actively involved in PhD supervision in areas such as documentary practice, film and conflict, and film-philosophy. He maintains affiliations with the Centre for Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies at the American University of Beirut and the Centre for Lebanese Studies at the Lebanese American University, underscoring his regional academic engagement.