April 18, 2024

Beirut Shines Bright: Resilience and Empowerment Take Centre Stage at Beirut International Women Film Festival

Igniting a celebration that honours women’s voices and the transformative impact of cinema, the 7th edition of the Beirut International Women Film Festival (BWFF) raised its curtains with a star-studded opening ceremony at the renowned Casino du Liban on Sunday, April 14, 2024. Organized by the prestigious Beirut Film Society, the event was a captivating blend of art, music, poetry, and passionate speeches, paying tribute to the remarkable legacy of the legendary Yousra while sparking a fervent discussion on how films can foster peace, freedom, and human resilience amidst adversity.

In a triumphant moment, Yousra gracefully accepted the coveted “Tanit” award from the Lebanese Minister of Information, Ziad Makari, and the president and founder of the Beirut Film Society (BFS), Sam Lahoud, surrounded by esteemed guests. This year’s edition unfolds under the powerful theme “Women for Leadership,” running until April 19, 2024, with the esteemed support of his excellency Eng. Ziad Makari. The festival is a collaboration with Cedars Art Production Sabbah Brothers and in partnership with Casino du Liban, Grand Cinemas, and LBCI. Despite the challenges faced by Lebanon and the Arab world, BFS boldly chose to champion peace, culture, and art, proving that wars and unrest can never extinguish the unbreakable spirit of life, arts, and culture.

Over the years, this festival has etched its name as an eagerly awaited annual celebration and a prestigious platform for filmmakers. Renowned for its inclusive embrace, it has steadfastly empowered women and cast a spotlight on their trailblazing roles as leaders and pioneers. The festival’s opening ceremony pays homage to these pioneering women in the field, and this year, it bestowed its highest honor upon the iconic Yousra, a towering figure in Arab cinema, for her groundbreaking and illustrious career in the world of cinema and art, as well as her unwavering dedication to humanitarian causes.

With a captivating air, the inaugural ceremony unfolded through the impassioned words of Nisreen Zawahra, the master of ceremony, who articulated the profound importance of cinema. She reminisced upon the numerous milestones that have shaped the Beirut Film Society’s 17-year odyssey, including the establishment and organization of film festivals in Lebanon, Canada, and the United States, the global programming and distribution of Lebanese movies, as well as the countless local and international opportunities forged through its diverse partnerships. Her discourse was followed by a poignant interlude from Miss Lebanon, Miss Asia and Oceania, and Miss World’s first runner-up, Yasmina Zeitoun, who eloquently expressed her “unwavering belief in Lebanon, clinging to it and working tirelessly on everything that contributes to its ascent.“

The introduction of the esteemed members of the jury was followed by the unveiling of the festival’s participating films, setting the stage for a dazzling speech by H.E. Ziad Makari. He commenced by underscoring the paramount importance of such events, crowning Beirut as “the capital of media, art, culture, will, and love of life” despite the myriad difficulties and challenges it confronts.

He then wove a captivating metaphor around the name of the guest of honor, lavishing praise upon her multifaceted talents: “She encompasses the entire Arabic alphabet from Alif to Ya’a and harbors the mysteries of her energy. The unrelated letter ‘Mim’ accompanies her in all aspects of her life. Mesmerizing in her art, magnificent in her performance, much-loved in her surroundings, a master investor in people’s love for her, and more than an inspiration for Arab women. Despite all her beautiful qualities… she’s the embodiment of utmost modesty and, last but not least, she’s Masriyya – Egyptian. She was born in the womb of Misr – Egypt, and she grew up in the womb of the Arab world which she traveled with her art, and a traveler beyond borders is a traveler well-loved! This icon of a woman who has a hold on our hearts is among us today, with nothing between us but a never-ending love story, and she is being recognized tonight because she is Number One.”

Makari further stressed the essential role of cinema in amplifying women’s voices and supporting the numerous issues they confront: “We live in the age of image in all its manifestations, and image means cinema, and cinema means the world, and between image, cinema, and the world, the new generation is aware of the importance of openness in a civilized and responsible manner. Arab women have succeeded in cinema, and Arab cinema has succeeded in shedding light on women’s issues and emphasizing the importance of their involvement in their communities in the way they deserve and are worthy of. Cinema has also succeeded in providing content that conveys human suffering with transparency, supports renaissance, and calls for peace. In this regard, I must make a nod towards Lebanese women, who have a clear imprint in the film industry. We want this representation to grow further by developing policies to encourage and incentivize women in cinema, drama, and media. This is where lies the importance of the partnership between the public and private sectors in cinema, arts, and media.”

Underscoring the role of his ministry, he stated: “The Ministry of Information takes pride in this cooperation with the Beirut Film Society and Al-Sabah to promote the Film Friendly Lebanon initiative, and I hope that we will all succeed in stimulating the production of dramatic and cinematic content.” Makari concluded his impassioned speech by “thanking Yousra, Sadek Al-Sabbah, the 7th edition of the Beirut International Women’s Film Festival, and Beirut, the shining city that never dies. Isn’t this version of Beirut strange? Painful to the bone, but beautiful to the core, rebellious and creative to the point of brilliance, and resistant to all attempts to kill it, it does not and will not die.”

Succeeding Makari’s fervent discourse, the owner of Cedars Art Production, Sadek Al-Sabbah, took the stage, shedding light on the responsibility and outreach of this monumental project: “Every work carried out by the company carries a message to our Lebanese and Arab community. The spread of the company’s offices in many countries of the Arab world has never stopped it from abandoning our homeland, Lebanon. Our national responsibility requires us to strive more for the prosperity of the industry, which contributes significantly to supporting the Lebanese economy.”

Al-Sabbah also underscored “the importance of cooperation between production companies and associations, in search of better social and economic prospects for our Arab youth. Our partnership today with the Beirut Film Society aims to empower youth and new talents,” he expressed, announcing “the launch of a major scriptwriting project by a group of young talents, hoping to keep the production industry at the forefront for the good of our Arab communities.“

In his impassioned speech, Mr. Sam Lahoud, the founder, president of the Beirut Film Society, and the director of the festival, noted that “the Beirut Film Society and the festival work tirelessly for peace, justice, and freedom for all vulnerable, occupied, and suffering individuals in every country on this planet.“

After denouncing the wars and the insidious logic of violence and evil that currently prevails in our societies, he declared with conviction: “We may be morally decimated, but we will not commit suicide. We will not kill our will to live with our own hands. Our presence here today is nothing but a proof that human beings love life by nature, and that art is resistant to every kind of death.“

Lahoud continued, “It is not a coincidence that our meeting today coincides with the day after the 49th anniversary of the Lebanese civil war, and in order to learn, we must remember. On April 13, 1975, Lebanon entered the darkness of a war whose chapters have not yet ended. We should have learned from our history. We have felt and continue to feel the effects of wars: killing, kidnapping, displacement, destruction, hunger, and poverty, but at the end of the war, warlords, bandits, and axis leaders become leaders of peace and reconcile with each other.“

Sharing his own personal narrative, he spoke about losing his father at a tender age because of the war, which influenced his decision to dedicate his life to the protection of life and the rejection of all forms of war and death. “Every day the challenges multiply, but the determination is much stronger. We are not allowed to fail. What pushes me forward every day is the laughter of every young man and girl, the joy in the faces of adults and children, the faces of my students at the university, the look of my daughters full of confidence and security when I urge them to be fearless, and you, dear audience, who abandoned everything and defied fear and anxiety to silence the drums of war that were beating just yesterday, proclaiming your will to live and your determination to endure, joy, and spread the culture of love…“

He addressed the Lebanese youth with a fervent appeal, saying, “Lebanon is more than a piece of land inhabited by a group of people; Lebanon is not a geographical boundary created by the Sykes-Picot Agreement; Lebanon is the country of the message, and its borders are all over the world. Your message is great in this region—a message of encounter and convergence—because of your culture in its Arab dimension, the Levantine depth, the Western influence, and your religious diversity. You are able to communicate with all human beings and bring them closer to each other, to be an image and an example, and to influence people with your culture. Fulfill this mission, however difficult, because your role in it is great and important.“

“The Beirut International Women Film Festival is part of the ‘Free Human Project’ because women’s issues are no longer limited to women’s social affairs, but have a large human dimension that includes children’s issues, education, the environment, the balance of society, labor laws, human protection, and human identity,” he affirmed.

Lahoud then expressed his gratitude to all international and local partners, the team, sponsors, and everyone who contributed to the success of this monumental event.

After that, he addressed Ms. Yousra with reverence, saying: “You are the heir of a great civilization called Egypt. Egypt and Lebanon are like an old love story, and the cinema of Lebanon and Egypt has a shared history. There is a long list of names of great Lebanese actors, directors, and producers who went to Egypt and were brilliant in their work. Lebanon is at the heart of Egyptian cinema, and Egypt is at the heart of Lebanon. Your presence with us today is an assertion of the importance of maintaining these solid bridges between our two countries. Your survival despite all that has happened is a message of steadfastness and strength to all the young people here who will learn from you and celebrate your honor on the stage of this great cultural hall.“

After being awarded the prestigious “Tanit” award, the legendary actress Yousra expressed her profound emotions, visibly moved to tears more than once. She thanked the organizers for this amazing and distinguished honor, which exceeded her expectations, and said: “I have experienced all the stages of my life with you in this tribute: My memories, my pains, my laughter, my successes, my failures…“

Yousra was thankful that she did not miss this celebration given the tensions in the region, especially in Lebanon, noting that she had “not experienced love like this in a really long time.” She praised the indomitable qualities of the Lebanese people, including their love of life, their utmost generosity, and their ability to overcome crises, expressing her sincere love for them and noting that she learned a lot from them, most importantly strength and resilience.

“I missed Lebanon very much, and when I arrived, I found Beirut sad. When the security incident happened, I was worried about you, and I was afraid to grieve more with you. At the same time, I had never experienced anything like this before, but when I saw how you dealt with these events, I felt ashamed of my reaction.“

The iconic actress also expressed her gratitude to the Al-Sabah family, to whom she owes her very first film. She further thanked the festival director and the team for their efforts in organizing this wonderful tribute, an honor she had never received before, both in her personal life and in all the festivals that celebrated her around the world. At the end of her expressive speech, she paid tribute to the greatness she saw in all aspects of this ceremony: its organization, the excellence of its artistic performance on stage, the speeches delivered, and the love she saw in the eyes of the audience. She testified to her appreciation toward the excellence of the Lebanese in all fields and her gratitude to them. Yousra also noted that they would overcome all their crises through their resilience and their unwavering determination to survive and thrive.

The opening ceremony was further elevated by a documentary showcasing Yousra’s life and outstanding career, a featured video presentation and a live instrumental show by the esteemed composer and pianist Michel Fadel, a stunning performance by the renowned Al Faihaa National Choir, and a vivid performance by Pavo. These artistic interludes added a captivating component of diversity and excitement to the event.

Moreover, the celebrated poet and sculptor Rudy Rahme bestowed a sculptural gift upon both Yousra and Sadek Al-Sabbah, while reciting a poetic tribute in honor of the legendary actress. This thoughtful gesture further underscored the reverence and admiration held for Yousra’s illustrious body of work.

The grand opening ceremony was a resplendent tapestry woven from the threads of cinema, music, poetry, and art, paying homage to the indomitable spirit of Yousra and the enduring power of women’s voices in the realm of film. It was a celebration that transcended mere entertainment, igniting a passionate discourse on the role of art in fostering peace, freedom, and human resilience in the face of adversity.

festival Highlights

The festival will continue its cinematic journey until April 19 at Grand Cinemas in ABC Dbayeh, welcoming the public to immerse themselves in 73 feature films and short films from 35 different countries. This diverse showcase encompasses a rich tapestry of narrative, documentary, animation, experimental, and dance films, complemented by thought-provoking seminars and panel discussions. The festival will culminate on the 19th of April with an award ceremony graced by a distinguished jury, chaired by the renowned actress Carmen Lebbos, and comprising 18 esteemed members, all leading filmmakers, actors, and artists, divided into committees for each category of films presented.

The Beirut Film Society, the driving force behind this celebration, is an organization that champions and disseminates Lebanese culture through the powerful mediums of filmmaking and artwork, both nationally and globally. Its activities span the organization of festivals in Lebanon and various countries, including Canada, Latin America, and the Arab world, as well as a partnership with the Ministry of Tourism to launch the Lebanon Cinema City project, initiated by the Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar, with the aim of attracting local and international productions. This partnership is a resounding testament to the Beirut Film Society’s vision of Film Friendly Lebanon, thanks to its invaluable contribution to the promotion of a culture-based economy and film-based tourism.