Lebanese Films Highlighted at TIFF Bell Lightbox
Under the title Once Upon a Time, Lebanon: Visions of Postwar in New Lebanese Cinema, Lebanese filmmakers will participate in the Toronto International Film Festival that will be held in Toronto at the (TIFF) Bell Lightbox between June 14- June 17.
Curated by Rasha Salti, Toronto International Film Festival programmer of African and Middle Eastern Cinema, Once Upon a Time, Lebanon: Visions of Postwar in New Lebanese Cinema, features an exciting line-up of fifteen films (8 features and 7 shorts) from the most promising and internationally acclaimed national cinema in the Middle East.
On Thursday, June 14, Salti will launch the series with an overview of the history and current state of contemporary Lebanese cinema prior to the screening of Jocelyne Saab's Once Upon a Time: Beirut 1994, a fascinating fiction/non-fiction hybrid that examines the city’s cinematic legacy.
Other highlights include Ghassan Salhab’s Terra Incognita; Joana Hadjithomas & Khalil Joreige A Perfect Day (Yawmon Akhar); Danielle Arbid’s Beirut Hotel (Chambres d’hôtels); preceded by A Sheherazade Tale (Wa Saqatat Shahrazad) directed by Rami Kodeih.
Shorts Programs include a trio from directors Hani Tamba, Dima El-Horr and Ahmad Ghossein starting with After Shave directed by Hani Tamba, followed by Ready-to-Wear Imm Ali (Prêt-à-porter Imm Ali) dir. Dima El-Horr; My Father Is Still a Communist (Abi Ma Zal Shuyu‘iyyan, Asrar Hamimah Lil Jamee‘) dir. Ahmad Ghossein; Falafel dir. Michel Kammoun preceded by Tomorrow 6:30 (Bokra Sitteh W’Noss) dir. Gilles Tarazi; OK, Enough, Goodbye (Tayeb, Khalas, Yalla) dirs. Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia; Tripoli, Quiet (Trablos Al-Hada) dirs. Rania Attieh & Daniel Garcia; Yamo dir. Rami Nihawi; My Heart Beats Only for Her (Ma Hataftu li Ghayriha) dir. Mohamed Souei and We Will Win dir. Mahmoud Hojeij.
TIFF is a charitable cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. An international leader in film culture, TIFF projects include the annual Toronto International Film Festival in September; TIFF Bell Lightbox, which features five cinemas, major exhibitions, and learning and entertainment facilities; and innovative national distribution program Film Circuit. The organization generates an annual economic impact of $170 million CAD.
