The 30th edition of the European Film Festival in Lebanon opened at Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael, drawing a notable official, diplomatic and artistic turnout.
The opening was attended by Minister of Information Paul Morcos, Minister of Tourism Laura Lahoud, and the European Union Ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele, alongside a crowd of Lebanese film stars, directors, producers, and cultural and media figures.
The opening ceremony marked an occasion to celebrate three decades of cinematic and cultural exchange between Lebanon and Europe, in a festival organized by the European Union Delegation to Lebanon, under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with the Metropolis Cinema Association, and in cooperation with European Union member states.
The 30th edition runs through October 17, with a varied program bringing together the latest European productions, Lebanese cinema, restored classic films, as well as interactive screenings, experiences and specialized talks.
Screenings opened with the French film “La Vénus électrique” by director Pierre Salvadori, a romantic comedy that previously opened the 79th edition of the Cannes Film Festival.
This year’s program includes 24 recent European feature films, among them works that participated in major international festivals, including “Young Mothers” by brothers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, and “La Grazia” by Italian director Paolo Sorrentino.
Lebanese presence at the heart of the festival
Lebanese cinema features prominently in the new edition, with the festival screening the feature film “Dead Dog” by director Sarah Francis, with the cast and crew in attendance, ahead of its commercial release in Lebanon.
The short film “Birthmark” by director George Peter Barbari will also be screened, while the short film competition brings together ten works by emerging Lebanese directors competing for two awards that will grant the winners the opportunity to attend an international film festival in Europe.
The jury includes actor Georges Khabbaz, actress Rita Hayek, and film critic Elias Dammar.
Tributes and diverse cinematic experiences
The 30th edition revisits notable milestones in world cinema history through screenings of restored classic films, including “The Turin Horse” as a tribute to director Béla Tarr, and “Bebo’s Girl” as a tribute to actress Claudia Cardinale, in addition to “The Maids of Wilko” to mark the centennial of the birth of Polish director Andrzej Wajda.
A special program also brings together the film “Nouvelle Vague” by Richard Linklater and “Breathless” (À bout de souffle) by Jean-Luc Godard, in a cinematic dialogue between a contemporary work and one of the most famous films of the French New Wave.
The festival’s activities are not limited to traditional screenings, as it will also feature a screening of the silent film “Dans la nuit” accompanied by live music performed by Lebanese artists, in addition to two virtual reality experiences and an animation workshop for young people.
The festival also dedicates space to discussing the presence of artificial intelligence in filmmaking through a screening of the short film “The Midwife” and a discussion with its creators about new technologies and their impact on the future of cinema.
The 30th edition concludes on October 17 with screenings of the short film competition and the awards ceremony, while some of the festival’s activities will extend to Saida, Jounieh and Tripoli during October and November.
