The Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon is organizing the 30th edition of the European Film Festival, running from October 8 to 17 at Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael.
The event is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Metropolis Cinema Association and in cooperation with EU member states.
The festival opens with the French film “Venus électrique” (“Electric Venus”) by director Pierre Salvadori, a romantic comedy that opened this year’s Cannes International Film Festival.
International films and a Lebanese presence
The program includes 24 recent European feature films, alongside restored classics and tributes to Béla Tarr, Claudia Cardinale, and Andrzej Wajda.
It also features a double screening of “Breathless” and “Nouvelle Vague.”
Lebanese cinema will be represented by “A Dog Sits Still” by Sarah Francis and “Shahwa” by George Peter Barbari, with both production teams in attendance.
In addition, 10 Lebanese short films will compete for two awards that will allow their winners to attend an international film festival in Europe.
Interactive experiences and screenings for young audiences
The European Film Festival will offer two virtual reality experiences, an animation workshop for teenagers, and a poster exhibition.
In addition, three films will be dedicated to young audiences, and the silent film “At Night” will be screened with live musical accompaniment.
The festival will close with the competition screenings and awards ceremony, before a jury that includes Georges Khabbaz, Rita Hayek, and Elias Dmer.
It will then travel to Sidon, Jounieh, and Tripoli during October and November.
Ticket prices are 500,000 LBP, and 400,000 LBP for students, available at the cinema and through the Antoine booking platform.
