28th European Film Festival to begin in Lebanon on Sep. 25
The Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, in partnership with the Metropolis Cinema Association and in cooperation with the European Union Member States, has announced that the 28th European Film Festival in Lebanon will be held from September 25 to October 4, 2023.
The festival will open on Monday, September 25 with the Spanish film Ramona by Andrea Bagney, which won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2022 Rome Film Fest.
The program of this 28th edition presents a wide variety of screenings and events:
- 27 recent feature films from Europe allowing the audience to watch prize-winning films, which were screened at major international film festivals, as well as the first or second productions of emerging directors;
- 1 ciné-concert with live music;
- 1 classic feature film: “Cría Cuervos” in tribute to Spanish filmmaker Carlos Saura;
- 1 Lebanese production: “Riverbed” by Bassem Breche to close the Festival;
- 12 short films produced by young emerging Lebanese filmmakers, and competing to win awards offered by Member States;
- 1 Film Expression Workshop: “Taabir”.
The feature films’ selection includes two animated films for the young audience. The Festival will invite children from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds to these screenings.
Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale “The Little Match Girl” (published in 1845) was adapted into a silent film in 1928 by Jean Renoir. In collaboration with Metropolis Cinema and Irtijal, the Festival will present a unique ciné-concert experience with the original music of Frequent Defect.
The Festival will award three prizes for the films participating in the Short Film Competition. Winners will be invited to attend a leading international film festival in Europe in 2024, in partnership with Goethe-Institut Libanon, l’Institut français du Liban and the Embassy of Poland in Lebanon.
The Film Expression Workshop: “Taabir”, led by filmmaker Corine Shawi and university professor Yara Nashawaty, will invite six participants aged forty and above to produce short video diaries and train them to develop their own cinematic style.
The Festival closes on Wednesday, October 4 with the Short Film Competition Award Ceremony, followed by the Lebanese premiere of the film “Riverbed” by Bassem Breche, in the presence of the filmmaker and film team.
The 28th edition of the European Film Festival will run in Beirut in: Galaxy Grand Cinemas, Theatre Caracalla, Beirut Art Center and the Italian Embassy Garden. In its continuous effort to promote and disseminate European culture to the widest possible audience, the Festival is scheduled to run in regions across Lebanon throughout October, including Hermel, Sidon, Tripoli, Jounieh, Byblos and Zahle.
Tickets for the film screenings at Galaxy Grand Cinemas and Beirut Art Center: LBP 200,000 (Student price: LBP 100,000). Reservations can be made on metropoliscinema.net. Opening night by invitation only.
The full program is available on the website and social media accounts of:
The Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon:
http://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/lebanon
@EUinLebanon on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/X.
Metropolis Cinema Association:
metropoliscinema.net
@MetropolisCinema on Facebook and Instagram.
@Metropolislb on Twitter/X.
