Launch of the Lebanon Film Festival at the Historic Colisée Cinema with Arab and International Participation

The Tiro for Arts Association and the Istanbouli Theater have announced the launch of the Lebanon International Short Film Festival, taking place at the historic Colisée Cinema in Beirut under the theme “Hamra Cinema Days.” The festival will run from 15 to 18 November 2025 and will showcase a selection of short fiction, documentary, and animation films from 18 countries, including Mexico, Lebanon, Oman, the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Argentina, Palestine, Bahrain, Germany, Iraq, Tunisia, Algeria, Syria, France, Iran, Morocco, and Ireland.

Actor and director Qassem Istanbouli, founder of the Lebanese National Theatre and recipient of the UNESCO Sharjah Prize for Arab Culture, stated: “The continuation of festivals, film screenings, and free training workshops amid all the challenges surrounding us represents an important opportunity for connection, enabling audiences to explore diverse cultures from around the world and to highlight films that reveal truth through the seventh art.”

The festival aims to strengthen local cinema, promote cultural exchange, and host training workshops, panel discussions, and conversations with filmmakers. A dedicated space will also showcase student film projects, offering young talents a platform to present their work.

Led by a team of young volunteers, the Tiro Association for Arts is committed to creating free, independent cultural spaces across Lebanon. Its initiatives include rehabilitating Al Hamra Cinema, Stars Cinema in Nabatieh, and Rivoli Cinema in Tyre, now transformed into the Lebanese National Theatre, the country’s first free theatre and cinema, as well as the restoration of Empire Cinema in Tripoli, now the Lebanese National Theatre in Tripoli.