Organised by the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon, in partnership with the Metropolis Cinema Association and in cooperation with the European Union Member States, the European Film Festival returns for its 29^th edition, to be held at Metropolis Cinema (Mar Mikhael) from 30 April to 11 May 2025. 

The European Film Festival will open on Wednesday 30 April with the Lebanese premiere of the Latvian film Flow by Gints Zilbalodis. Since its World Premiere at the Un Certain Regard section in Festival de Cannes 2024, the film won over 50 Awards, including the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2025 Academy Awards. (The opening night is by invitation only. The film will be released in Lebanese cinemas on 8 May.)

The programme of the 29^th European Film Festival includes:

• 21 recent feature films from Europe allowing the audience to discover award-winning films, which were screened at major international film festivals;

• 1 ciné-concert with live music;

• 1 classic feature film “Jamón Jamón” screening in its restored copy in the presence of the actor Jordi Mollà;

• 1 Lebanese classic film “Abou Salim, Messenger of Love” screening in its restored version in tribute to Abou Salim to close the Festival;

• 12 short films produced by young emerging Lebanese filmmakers, and competing to win awards offered by Member States.

This edition marks the return of the European Film Festival at Metropolis Cinema, which reopened in new premises in Mar Mikhael last December, allowing the audience a full festival experience.

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.

The Festival will present a unique ciné-concert experience: “Voyage to the World of Fairies” with original music by Duo Catherine Vincent, revisiting four tales through songs, featuring short films by Georges Méliès and Lotte Reiniger. 

The Festival will award two prizes for the films participating in the Short Film Competition. Winners will be invited to attend a leading international film festival in Europe, in partnership with Goethe-Institut Libanon and Institut français du Liban. 

In the Classics section, the restored copy of the Spanish film “Jamón Jamón” directed by Bigas Luna will screen in the presence of the actor Jordi Mollà. The Lebanese audience will have the chance to attend a Conversation with the Spanish actor following the screening.

The Festival closes on Sunday 11 May with the Short Film Competition Award Ceremony, followed by the screening of the digitised and restored copy of the Lebanese film “Abou Salim, Messenger of Love”, directed by Youssef Maalouf, in tribute to Abou Salim who will be in attendance. The digitisation and restoration efforts to make this new film copy available with subtitles was led by Nadi Lekol Nas.

This edition’s poster was designed by Natasha Simonian, following a competition launched online. The artist aimed to capture a moment of Beirut’s everyday poetry, roaming cats, tangled wires, and the rich tapestry of old and new buildings.

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 May, including in Saida, Tripoli and Jounieh.

Tickets: 400,000 LBP available at the cinema and via AntoineTicketing.com.

Opening night by invitation only.

Full programme: