The European Film Festival in Lebanon opens the day after tomorrow, Thursday, October 8, marking its 30th edition. The festival is organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture, in partnership with Metropolis Cinema Association and in cooperation with the European Union’s member states. Events will continue until October 17 at Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael.
The opening ceremony, reserved for invited guests, will feature a screening of the French film “La Vénus électrique” (Electric Venus) by director Pierre Salvadori, a romantic comedy that opened the 79th Cannes International Film Festival in May 2026.
This year’s edition features a broad cinematic and cultural program that includes 24 recent European feature films, alongside restored classic films, Lebanese feature and short films, as well as virtual reality screenings, interactive workshops and a poster exhibition.
The festival this year is paying tribute to several prominent names in film history, with a screening of “The Turin Horse” in honor of director Béla Tarr, “Claudia Cardinale’s Friend” in honor of actress Claudia Cardinale, and “The Girls of Wilko” to mark the centenary of the birth of Polish director Andrzej Wajda.
The program also includes a double screening pairing “Nouvelle Vague” by director Richard Linklater with the restored version of Jean-Luc Godard’s classic film “Breathless.”
Lebanese presence at the European Film Festival
The festival continues its support for Lebanese cinema with a screening of the feature film “Dead Dog” by director Sarah Francis, with the cast and crew in attendance, ahead of its commercial release in Lebanese theaters.
The short film “Birthmark” by director George Peter Barbari will also be screened in Lebanon for the first time, following its participation in the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and a number of international festivals.
The program also includes a screening of the short film “The Midwife” (Al-Daya), followed by a discussion session on the practical uses of artificial intelligence in filmmaking and the challenges associated with it.
Ten short films by Lebanese directors will compete in a special competition for two prizes, giving the winners the opportunity to attend a prominent international film festival in Europe.
Music screenings and events for young audiences
The ciné-concert returns this year with the silent film “Dans la nuit” (In the Night), the only directorial work of actor Charles Vanel, in a restored version from the Lumière Institute, accompanied by live music performed by a number of Lebanese musicians.
The festival has also dedicated three films for young audiences, alongside an animation workshop targeting the 12-to-14 age group, in cooperation with the “Youth Animation Platform.”
The edition concludes on the evening of Saturday, October 17, with screenings for the short film competition and an awards ceremony, with a jury comprising George Khabbaz, Rita Hayek and film critic and consultant Elias Domar selecting the winners.
The European Film Festival also continues its activities outside Beirut, organizing screenings and film stops in a number of Lebanese regions, including Sidon, Jounieh and Tripoli, during October and November.
