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

Thousands gathered for the 20th Beirut Shorts International Film Festival, an annual celebration of short films from Lebanon and beyond. The three-day event at the Metropolis Cinema in Beirut's Mar Mikhael district saw 3,500 attendees, according to co-founder Sam Lahoud. "People are eager to be together again and enjoy live, interactive experiences," Lahoud noted.

Lebanese actress Wafa Halawi, a member of the jury for Beirut Sparks - a competition for student productions - echoed this sentiment, praising the audience's thirst for both art and social connection.

The festival, now in its 15th year, was held amid ongoing conflict. The Israel-Lebanon war that began in March has killed over 4,300 people and left many with deep scars. Despite these challenges, the festival attracted a large crowd, suggesting a resilience and appreciation for film that transcends political turmoil. The festival, founded by the Beirut Film Society and themed "The Power of Youth," showcases fiction, documentaries, animation, experimental films, and new media productions.

It is Lebanon's first Oscar-qualifying film festival, with winners in three categories eligible for consideration at the Academy Awards.

This year, "A Few Moments of Happiness" by Shaden Tazi took home the Best Lebanese Short Film award. French duo Galdric Fleury and Antoine Fontaine won Best International Short Film for "67 Milliseconds," while Julie Charette's "The Comet" won Best Animation. Documentary "As I Lay Dying" by Mohammadreza Farzad and Pegah Ahangarani earned Best Documentary, while An Chu's "Paper Life" won Best Live Action. Julia Coldwell Serra's "Nobody Barks" was awarded a special mention.

The winning short film "No Dead Ends," co-directed by AFP photojournalist Christina Assi and Rani Nasser, won the Audience Choice Award. Assi, who lost her leg in an Israeli strike in 2023, expressed her amazement at the festival's success, stating, "I didn't expect such overwhelming positive feedback or such a great turnout." The film, which chronicles her recovery and fight against impunity, was a poignant reminder of the human cost of war, Assi said.

The festival's winning Lebanese films seemed to mirror the nation's recent unrest. "A Few Moments of Happiness" by Tazi explores the despair of watching her country being destroyed from afar. Tazi, who first visited Lebanon in two and a half years, described the national festival as a "beautiful sign of vitality in a country" - a stark contrast to the emptiness of French cinemas. She emphasized the supportive nature of Lebanese audiences, who champion and give visibility to their artists.