‘A real thirst for art’: After months of war, Beirut’s appetite for cinema is undiminished

↗ اشتراک‌گذاری

According to The National, the 20th Beirut Shorts International Film Festival took place from November 2 to 6 at the Metropolis Cinema in the Mar Mikhael district. Festival director Sam Lahoud reported that 3,500 people attended the event, despite months of full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah that began in March. The festival, which is Lebanon's first Oscar-qualifying film event, showcased fiction, documentaries, animation, and experimental films. 'No Dead Ends', co-directed by AFP photojournalist Christina Assi—who was injured in an Israeli strike in 2023—won the Audience Choice Award. Additionally, 'A Few Moments of Happiness' by Shaden Tazi was named Best Lebanese Short Film. Attendees and artists described the high turnout as a testament to the public's need for a cultural refuge and social connection during times of crisis.