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L'Orient-Le Jour
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
The artistic women of Beirut, Hend Sabri's UN exit and film galore in Lebanon
With spring in full bloom and the cultural calendar equally bursting in abundance, I'm itching to get outside this weekend. The only problem is figuring out how to be everywhere at once. Part of me is longing to be outdoors, basking in the sun and the scent of jasmine, but at the same time, I'm finding the season's lineup of films and exhibitions just as alluring. With the help of the following articles, I'm plotting a weekend that includes a little bit of both. I hope you manage the same. Four female Lebanese artists to watch Three female painters and one photographer are taking the art scene by storm this spring in Beirut. They are reimagining the Phoenician princess of Sour, fusing Lebanese and Japanese abstraction, painting nostalgic village life and capturing women at the all-too familiar crossroads — to stay or leave Lebanon? From canvas to screen, women are also taking the spotlight at the 8th Beirut Women Film Festival, which, this year, is bigger and more encompassing than ever. Rana Najjar sat down with founder and director Sam Lahoud to understand how the event advocates for a film world committed to women. This year's event has also brought none other than Egyptian-Tunisian actress Hend Sabri, this year's festival honoree, to town. Karl Richa caught up with the icon between screenings, red carpets and her departure from her position as U.N. ambassador. Who needs a euro-summer when you have euro-film-spring If the festival has opened the floodgates of your cinematic appetite, you're in luck. The European Film Festival is also kicking off this week at Beirut's Metropolis Cinema. We've got more info on the event and our top picks for your movie marathon. For the bookworms of Beirut It really is the season of cultural festivals! Last weekend, Yara Malka captured the literary bliss of her spring morning spent wandering around this year's Souk al-Kotob festival, guiding us through the stalls of eclectic wares infused with the smell of ground coffee and freshly printed pages. A Thousand and One Nights like you've never seen before To finish with a bang, the Caracalla Dance Theatre returns this month with a high-octane take on 'One Thousand and One Nights,' where classical choreography meets dabkeh, vivid silks billow on stage and the folkloric spirit of Baalbeck is brought back to life in dramatic color.
L'Orient-Le Jour
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- L'Orient-Le Jour
European Film Festival starts today in Beirut: Discover our selection
From April 30 to May 11, the 29th edition of the European Film Festival will light up the screens of Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael with more than 35 films, special guests, concerts, tributes and a steadfast passion for the seventh art. The festival is organized by the European Union delegation in Lebanon, in partnership with the Metropolis Cinema Association and EU member state embassies. Opening with a Cannes favorite The festival will open with Flow by Gints Zilbalodis, a Latvian sensation unveiled at Cannes in 2024. The silent animated feature — which won the 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Feature and more than 50 international awards — follows a cat navigating a dreamlike, submerged world. The film promises to set the tone for a festival focused on innovation and emotion. The opening night is by invitation only, ahead of the film's national release on May 8. This year's lineup includes 21 feature films from across Europe, offering Lebanese audiences a bold and varied look at contemporary European cinema. Among them are several festival prizewinners, including two animated films for younger viewers. Special "movie-snack" screenings will be held for children from underserved communities. Alongside the European selections, 12 short films by emerging Lebanese filmmakers will compete for awards. Two winners will be selected to attend a European film festival, in collaboration with the Goethe-Institut and the French Institute of Lebanon. Cinema as a living experience Among the festival's standout events is Voyage to the Land of Fairies, a hybrid of concert and screening. The duo Catherine Vincent will reinterpret four enchanting short films by Georges Méliès and Lotte Reiniger in a musical, humorous, and poetic cine-concert, blending shadow theater and melodic storytelling. The festival also includes two special screenings with a focus on memory. Spanish classic Jamón Jamón by Bigas Luna will be shown in its restored version, with actor Jordi Mollà in attendance. The closing night on May 11 will feature the digitized version of Youssef Maalouf's Abou Salim, the Messenger of Love, a tribute to the beloved TV icon, who will attend the screening. A poster that speaks Beirut This year's festival poster, designed by Natasha Simonian, captures Beirut's raw energy: stray cats, tangled wires, and a city suspended between daily poetry and chaos. The design was chosen through an online competition, reflecting the festival's spirit of community and openness. Screenings will also reach audiences beyond Beirut, with events planned in Saida, Tripoli and Jounieh. Four must-see feature films The Story of Souleymane – Boris Lojkine (France) Monday, May 5 at 6 p.m. & Thursday, May 8 at 7 p.m. In the streets of Paris, Souleymane rehearses his story in preparation for an asylum interview. This poignant portrait of a suspended migrant, awarded at Cannes, stands out for its intensity and emotional depth. The Poet's Fiancée – Yolande Moreau (Belgium) Wednesday, May 7 at 9 p.m. In her inherited family home, Mireille hosts three eccentric tenants who disturb her solitude and stir romantic memories. A delicately offbeat comedy, true to Moreau's style. The End – Joshua Oppenheimer (Denmark) Friday, May 9 at 6 p.m. In a post-apocalyptic world, a family lives sealed in a bunker. The arrival of a stranger disrupts their balance. With Tilda Swinton, this philosophical chamber piece is haunting and provocative. Rabiye Kurnaz vs. George W. Bush – Andreas Dresen (Germany) Thursday, May 1 at 8:30 p.m. & Saturday, May 10 at 4 p.m. A Turkish-German mother fights to free her son from Guantanamo. A moving and satirical courtroom drama, awarded the Silver Bear in Berlin. The Past Is Calling – Perla Geagea In a deserted Beirut home, an exiled voice returns to haunt the walls in a poetic audiovisual elegy. A silent meditation on what's left when everything is lost — haunting and understated. Bitter Greens, Tangled Roots – Abdallah Dannaoui A phone call between an exiled brother and sister rekindles memories of a vanished Lebanon. Sensitive Strings – Amal Ghamlooch A musician takes the stage one final time in a heartfelt, unadorned farewell. Awards will be announced during the closing ceremony on Sunday, May 11 at 8:30 p.m., followed by Abou Salim, the Messenger of Love. For Young Audiences: A Galactic Adventure Diplodocus – Wojtek Wawszczyk (Poland) Saturday, May 10 at 12 p.m. A small dinosaur capable of interplanetary travel sets out to find his parents. Packed with quirky characters and kinetic animation, this interstellar journey is perfect for children aged 8 and up. Festival Information Location: Metropolis Cinema, Mar Mikhael Dates: April 30 – May 11, 2025 Tickets: 400,000 Lebanese liras, available at or at the cinema Opening night: By invitation only
