As Beirut’s beloved art house cinema, Metropolis, celebrates its 20th anniversary, the organization reflects on two decades of unwavering commitment to independent film, cultural dialogue, and community building. From humble beginnings amid war and crises, Metropolis has not only endured but thrived, steadfastly upholding its core values of artistic integrity, inclusivity, and connection.

Over the past twenty years, Metropolis has evolved into more than just a cinema; it’s become a vital gathering space for filmmakers, audiences, and cultural pioneers. Throughout periods of upheaval and change, it has remained a beacon of hope and continuity—a place where stories are shared, voices are amplified, and communities are united.

A Journey of Endurance and Growth

Since opening its doors, Metropolis has experienced moments of doubt and triumph, navigating Lebanon’s shifting landscape with resilience and adaptability. Its mission has always been clear: to foster a profound appreciation of independent and regional cinema by providing a platform for diverse voices and innovative storytelling.

Expanding Horizons: Introducing Salet Wassel

Building on its legacy, and in celebration of its 20th anniversary, Metropolis is taking a significant step forward. The cinema is expanding its programming beyond Beirut through the launch of Salet Wassel project, a network of independent cinema spaces across Lebanon. Initiated by Metropolis and supported by the French Embassy and the French Institute in Lebanon, Salet Wassel connects regions from the south to the north and the Bekaa, embodying the belief that cinema should be more accessible and open to all.

Global Networks and Collaborations

Metropolis’s journey has been enriched by active participation in international networks such as NAAS (Network of Arab Alternative Screens) and CICAE (International Confederation of Art House Cinemas). Its collaborations extend regionally and globally, partnering with cinemas like Cinema Akil (UAE), Cinema Zaywa (Egypt), and CinéMadart (Tunisia), fostering a vibrant platform for cultural exchange and shared practices.

A Celebration of Cinema’s Future

To honour this remarkable milestone, festivities will take place from July 8 to 11, 2026, featuring a curated program of screenings, panels, and encounters with acclaimed filmmakers and industry figures. Highlights include:

– The Lebanese premiere of La Sentinelle by Ali Cherri, selected at La Semaine de la Critique, Cannes 2026, in of the director Cherri, the producer Rémi Bonhomme (Artistic Director of the Marrakech International Film Festival and Metropolis Board Member), and internationally acclaimed actor Nahuel Pérez Biscayart (120 Battements par Minute, See You Up There, Persistent Lessons, Kill the Jockey).

– The special screening of Someday a Child by Marie-Rose Osta, winner of the Golden Bear for Best Short Film at Berlinale 2026, with the director attending for a post-screening conversation.

Alongside the screenings, key figures from the regional and international film industry will be joining such as: Egyptian producer Mohamed Hefzy, Founder and CEO of Film Clinic who will take part in a panel discussion on Arab Cinema following the screening of Camera Arabe by prominent Tunisian director Ferid Boughedir, recently restored by Cineteca di Bologna.

Christophe Leparc, Managing Director of the Quinzaine des Cinéastes at Cannes and director of Cinemed (Montpelier); Gianluca Chakra, founder and CEO of Front Row Filmed Entertainment; Butheina Kazim founder of Cinema Akil in Dubai , Youssef El-Shazli, founder of Zawya in Egypt; and Kais Zaied, co-founder of CinéMadart in Tunisia, and many more.

Their presence reflects the diversity of voices and practices that continue to sustain and challenge cinema today, from creation to curation, from production to exhibition. It is within this shared space of exchange that our anniversary takes on its full meaning: as a meeting point between films, filmmakers, and the communities that make cinema possible.

This anniversary is not a celebration of an institution, but of something shared and sustained and still growing. A collective choice, made again and again, to gather in the dark.

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THE PROGRAM

July 8-11, 2026

July 8 | 8.30 PM | “Cinema Paradiso” by Giuseppe Tornatore (Restored copy)

Julu 9 | 8.00 PM | “Notre musique » by Jean-Luc Godard

followed by

Brève rencontre avec Jean Luc Godard (ou le cinéma comme métaphore) by Ghassan Salhab

July 10 | 7.30 PM | Caméra Arabe by Férid Boughedir (Restored copy)

followed by a Panel discussion: “The New Wave of Arab Cinema: A Story of Passion”

with: Mohamed Hefzy, Georges Schoucair and Eliane Raheb

moderated by Antoine Khalifé

July 11 |7.00 PM | La Sentinelle by Ali Cherri, in the presence of Ali Cherri, Rémi Bonhomme and Nahuel Pérez Biscayart, followed by a conversation

8.30 PM| Someday a Child by Marie-Rose Osta, in the presence of Marie-Rose Osta, accompanied by the actors Antoine Daher and Khaled Hassan.

9.30 PM | Party in the Metropolis Cinema Garden accompanied by DJ sets by Lana Daher, Charbel Haber and Lary Bou Safi

Grand Cinemas presents a current selection of films screening across all branches, offering a diverse lineup for all audiences.
Updated showtimes and titles are listed below.

GRAND CINEMAS – ABC ASHRAFIEH

Toy Story 5 | Tom Hanks, Tim Allen | Animation
2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00

Fuze | Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Sam Worthington | Action Thriller
2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00

Obsession | Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette | Horror
2:30 | 4:45 | 7:00 | 9:15

Michael | Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo | Drama / Music
2:00 | 4:30 | 7:00 | 9:20

The Mortuary Assistant | Willa Holland, Paul Sparks | Horror
3:00 | 5:00 | 7:15 | 9:30

Backrooms | Chiwetel Ejiofor, Renate Reinsve | Horror
2:00 | 4:30 | 7:00 | 9:20

The Devil Wears Prada 2 | Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt | Drama Comedy
2:15 | 4:30 | 6:45 | 9:15

GRAND CINEMAS – ABC DBAYEH

Normal | Bob Odenkirk, Ryan Allen | Action Crime Thriller
2:30 | 5:00 | 8:00 | 10:00

Michael | Jaafar Jackson, Colman Domingo | Drama / Music
2:00 | 4:30 | 7:00 | 9:30

Obsession | Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette | Horror
2:30 | 5:00 | 7:15 | 9:45

The Devil Wears Prada 2 | Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway, Emily Blunt | Drama Comedy
2:00 | 4:30 | 7:00 | 9:30

Scary Movie | Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans | Comedy Horror
2:30 | 5:00 | 8:00 | 10:00

The Mortuary Assistant | Willa Holland, Paul Sparks | Horror
2:30 | 5:00 | 8:00 | 10:00

Toy Story 5 | Tom Hanks, Tim Allen | Animation
2:15 | 4:15 | 6:30 | 8:45

GRAND CINEMAS – LAS SALINAS

Toy Story 5 | Tom Hanks, Tim Allen | Animation
3:30 | 5:15 | 7:00 | 9:00

Normal | Bob Odenkirk, Ryan Allen | Action Crime Thriller
3:30 | 5:30 | 7:30 | 9:30

The Mortuary Assistant | Willa Holland, Paul Sparks | Horror
3:30 | 5:30

Scary Movie | Marlon Wayans, Shawn Wayans | Comedy Horror
7:30 | 9:30

GRAND CINEMAS – THE SPOT SAIDA

Toy Story 5 | Tom Hanks, Tim Allen | Animation
2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00

Normal | Bob Odenkirk, Ryan Allen | Action Crime Thriller
2:00 | 4:00 | 6:00 | 8:00 | 10:00

The Mortuary Assistant | Willa Holland, Paul Sparks | Horror
3:00 | 5:00 | 7:00 | 9:15

Ezma | Ahmad Dawood, Salma Abou Deif | Drama
2:15 | 5:00 | 7:15 | 9:30

Obsession | Michael Johnston, Inde Navarrette | Horror
2:30 | 4:30 | 6:30 | 9:00

Zalfa Assaf

In a return that carries the weight of memory more than the anticipation of novelty, Toy Story 5 emerges as a major global cinematic event, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The film first launched worldwide as part of a broad international rollout that brought the franchise back to the forefront of the global cinematic landscape. Prior to its official theatrical release, a special preview screening was held at Grand Cinemas – Dbayeh, in an atmospheric celebration that reintroduced the world of toys as a living part of collective memory. In Lebanon, the film is set to officially begin screening on June 18 across all Grand Cinemas branches, in parallel with its continued international release.

The film situates itself within a delicate human moment, where childhood imagination is no longer separate from technology but increasingly intertwined with it. From this premise, Woody, Buzz, and Jessie move through a transformed world that redefines belonging and attachment, not merely as toys searching for a child, but as symbols of an era changing faster than memory can hold onto it. The central disruption begins with the arrival of “Lilypad,” voiced by Greta Lee, a smart interactive device introduced into Bonnie’s life as a fully immersive alternative to traditional play, forcing the old toys into an unprecedented existential challenge: how do they compete with something that never sleeps, never forgets, and never stops demanding attention?

Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack return to voice their iconic characters, maintaining the emotional continuity that has defined the franchise since its inception. Jessie, however, moves to a more central emotional position, becoming the narrative’s psychological core as she confronts the fragility of replacement and the fear of fading relevance in an ever-updating world. Woody appears in a more reflective mode, questioning whether his purpose has truly ended or merely evolved with time, while Buzz Lightyear faces a renewed paradox between his programmed identity and a reality that no longer aligns with his former mission parameters.

The film expands its world by introducing a new generation of toys within Bonnie’s environment, creating a miniature social ecosystem where traditional toys and modern tech-based toys coexist in tension and negotiation. This dynamic forms a symbolic reflection of generational conflict in the human world itself. The story also unfolds across varied settings such as Bonnie’s bedroom, school environments, and a sprawling toy store that takes on almost digital qualities, where physical shelves and glowing screens merge into a single blurred space, dissolving the boundaries between the real and the virtual.

On a cinematic level, the film maintains a careful balance between high-energy adventure and intimate emotional reflection. Its kinetic sequences are contrasted by quiet, contemplative moments that allow the characters to express a deeper existential unease. In doing so, it successfully revives the spirit of the original series while introducing a more mature layer of introspection, particularly in key scenes where Woody and Jessie engage in conversations centered on purpose, continuity, and the unsettling question of whether they are still needed or simply cherished memories. Ultimately, Toy Story 5 does not merely reopen the world of toys; it reframes the relationship between childhood and technology through a more contemporary lens, transforming play itself into a space of reflection on what remains of imagination in a world where the rules of attention and reality are constantly being rewritten.

The premiere of Disney’s Toy Story 5 took place at Grand Cinemas ABC Dbayeh, bringing together media personalities, social figures, families, and young movie lovers for an exclusive screening. The event marked the return of one of cinema’s most beloved franchises.

The screening blended nostalgia with a new generation of fans experienced the film’s charm in a celebratory atmosphere that reflected the timeless spirit of Toy Story.

The film will begin screening at Grand Cinemas on June 18.

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Pictures by Tarek Zeidan

Disney and Pixar have officially kicked off the worldwide press tour for the highly anticipated sequel TOY STORY 5, launching the campaign with a special red carpet event in London.

The event reunited beloved cast members Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and Joan Cusack, while also welcoming newcomer Greta Lee as the next chapter of the iconic animated franchise prepares for its theatrical debut.

In Toy Story 5, Woody, Buzz, Jessie, and the rest of the gang find themselves confronting a challenge unlike anything they have faced before: technology.

Blending the emotional nostalgia that has defined the series for decades with a fresh and timely premise, Toy Story 5 is already positioning itself as one of the biggest family film events of the year.

The film arrives in cinemas on June 18 at Grand Cinemas Lebanon.

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The Embassy of Brazil in Beirut and Guimarães Rosa Institute – Beirut, in collaboration with Metropolis Cinema Association, have the pleasure to convene the 8^th Brazilian Film Festival, to take place between June 16 and 20, 2026 at Metropolis Cinema, Mar Mikhael, Achrafieh, Beirut.

The festival features a selection of some of the most acclaimed Brazilian films of recent years, exploring diverse genres and offering insights into Brazilian society, history, and politics. The program also features an animated film that will appeal to young audiences and families, as well as a recently re-released classic.

The festival will open with national première of the acclaimed The Secret Agent (‘O Agente Secreto’) (Thriller, Period Drama, 2025, by Kleber Mendonça Filho), winner of the Best Director, Best Actor, FIPRESCI Prize for Best Film, and Art House Cinema Awards at the Cannes Film Festival in 2025, winner of two Golden Globe Awards in 2026, and nominated for four Academy Awards in 2026, including Best Picture and Best International Feature Film. Set in Brazil in 1977, the film follows Marcelo, a technology expert in his early 40s who is on the run. He arrives in Recife during carnival week, hoping to reunite with his son, but soon realizes that the city is far from being the non-violent refuge he seeks.

The program will also include:

The Blue Trail (‘O Último Azul’) (Drama, Distopian, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, 2025, by Gabriel Mascaro) – Tereza, 77, has lived her whole life in a small industrialized town in the Amazon, until one day she receives an official government order to relocate to a senior housing colony. The colony is an isolated area where the elderly are brought to “enjoy” their final years, freeing the younger generation to fully focus on productivity and growth. Tereza refuses to accept this imposed fate. Instead, she embarks on a transformative journey through the rivers of the Amazon to fulfill one last wish before her freedom is taken away—a decision that will change her destiny forever.

Vitoria (Fiction, Drama, 2025, by Andrucha Waddington) – Inspired by an incredible true story, Vitória, starring Academy Award nominee Fernanda Montenegro, follows the powerful journey of a retired woman who took down a dangerous gang of drug dealers and corrupt police officers using footage she captured from her apartment window in Rio de Janeiro. With the help of a journalist friend, she faces the risks and dangers of an unimaginable situation. A film about courage, strength, and the resilience of one woman.

The Best Mother in the World (‘A Melhor Mãe do Mundo’) (Drama, 2025, by Anna Muylaert) – To escape an abusive relationship, Gal places her two young children into the recycling cart she uses to collect trash from the city streets and runs away. Alone and facing the dangers of homelessness, she convinces them they are on an adventure.

Papaya (Animation, 2026, by Priscilla Kellen) – Passionate about flying, a tiny papaya seed in the Amazonian Forest must keep moving to avoid rooting. Through perseverance, she discovers the power of her roots, triggering a revolution that transforms her world and fulfills her dreams in an unexpected way.

City of God (‘Cidade de Deus’) (Drama, Crime, 2002, by Fernando Meirelles) – A landmark Brazilian classic of the 2000s, the film received widespread international acclaim and major award nominations, and was recently restaured and relaunched for a new generation of audiences. The streets of the notorious Rio’s slum, Rio de Janeiro’s “City of God”, are a place where combat photographers fear to tread, police rarely go, and residents are lucky if they live to the age of 20. Based on a true story, the film follows a young boy who, amid the oppressive crime and violence, grows up to discover that he can view the harsh realities of his surroundings with an artistic eye. In the face of impossible odds, his brave ambition to become a professional photographer becomes a window into his world and ultimately his way out.

At a time of hardship and recovery in Lebanon, the festival reaffirms the importance of culture as a sources of dialogue. Through stories that transcend borders, cinema brings people together and reminds us of shared experiences and aspirations. It highlights the value of supporting local initiatives that enrich public life and help strengthen bonds between our socieities.

SCREENING SCHEDULE

Metropolis Cinema, Mar Mikhael, Achrafieh, Beirut

Tuesday, June 16 at 8 PM

The Secret Agent (O Agente Secreto) by Kleber Mendonça Filho (2h38min) | English & Arabic subtitles

Wednesday, June 17 at 8 PM

The Blue Trail (O Último Azul) by Gabriel Mascaro (1h26min) | English subtitles

Thursday, June 18 at 8 PM
Vitoria by Andrucha Waddington (1h53min) | English subtitles

Friday, June 19 at 5 PM
Papaya by Priscilla Kellen (1h15min) | No Dialogue

Friday, June 19 at 8 PM
City of God (Cidade de Deus) by Fernando Meirelles (2h15min) | English & Arabic subtitles

Saturday, June 20 at 8 PM
The Best Mother in the World (A Melhor Mãe do Mundo) by Anna Muylaert (1h46min) | English subtitles