The Italian Embassy in Lebanon and the Italian Cultural Institute, in collaboration with Metropolis Art Cinema, have the pleasure to announce the first edition of the Italian Film Festival, set to take place in Beirut from January 24 to February 2, 2025.<\/p>\n
The Festival will open with the screening of Vermiglio, directed by Maura Delpero and nominated for the Oscars, marking its MENA premiere. The closing event will feature a stirring cine-concert of \u00c8 Piccerella, a masterpiece of Italian silent cinema directed in 1922 by Elvira Notari\u2014Italy’s first female filmmaker -accompanied by an original electronic score, composed and performed live in its world premiere.<\/p>\n
Cinema is not merely a medium of entertainment but a powerful tool for cultural dialogue and mutual understanding. The Italian Film Festival was conceived to bridge the gap in awareness of contemporary Italian cinema in Lebanon\u2014a nation where the classical works are cherished, yet modern productions remain underrepresented.<\/p>\n
For this first edition of the Festival, we are pleased to collaborate with the Metropolis Art Cinema: housed in a recently reopened structure, also thanks to the support of the Italian Embassy in Beirut, the Metropolis Cinema represents a symbol of cultural rebirth for Beirut.<\/p>\n
The Festival’s programming offers a rich and varied program of recent productions capable of exciting and stimulating the audience:<\/p>\n