Starting May 28th, the
second edition of the “South Screens” Festival will be launched by
the Metropolis Cinema Association. The festival runs from May 28 to June 6,
2026, at Metropolis Cinema (Mar Mikhael) – Achrafieh, Beirut.
This festival is held in belief that
Metropolis Cinema provides a platform for films from the Global South. This
edition features films from 15 countries and co-productions, bringing to the
Lebanese audience, who loves cinema, the opportunity to discover films from
diverse cultures that have gained international acclaim. Metropolis Cinema aims
to be the space where Lebanese audiences explore these valuable films.
The festival opens with the Lebanese film
“And the Fish Fly Above Our Heads” directed by Dima El-Horr.
The film previously won the Zonta Award in the Burning Lights competition at
Vision du Réel festival 2025 in France and has participated in several
festivals. It will be screened for the first time in Lebanon with the director,
Dima El-Horr, in attendance.
The closing film will be the Palestinia
film “All That’s Left of You” directed by Cherien Dabis. It had its World Premiere at Sundance Film Festival and has won several awards at
various festivals, including the Silver Yusr Award at the Red Sea International
Film Festival in Jeddah.
Another distinguished guest is the
Spanish-French director Oliver Laxe, who will arrive in Beirut
despite current circumstances. He will give a Master Class on June 3rd,
moderated by Rabih El- Khoury, Arab Film Programmer at the Berlin International
Film Festival and a member of the Metropolis Cinema Association.
His latest film, “Sirât”
which won the Jury Prize at Cannes 2025 and was nominated for the Best
International Feature Oscar representing Spain, will also be screened. The film
is notable for its sound work.
Oliver Laxe’s previous works have also been
featured and awarded at various festivals. Notably, his film
“Mimosas” shot in Morocco, won the Grand Prize in the Critics’ Week
at Cannes in 2016. His film “Fire Will Come” won the Jury Prize at
Cannes in 2019 in the “Un Certain Regard” section. Laxe is known for
his strong ties with the Arab world and Arab culture.
Classics also feature in this edition, with
two films:
– “The Years of Embers”(AKA
Chronique des années de braise) by the late Algerian director Mohammed
Lakhdar- Hamina, which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes in 1975 and was the first
Arab film to receive this honor.
– The Iraqi film “Saïd
Effendi” directed by Kameran Hosni, produced in 1957. It is considered
part of Iraqi cinematic heritage, depicting social realism and representing a
strong hope for the renaissance of Iraqi national cinema. It was recently
restored and screened at Cannes Film Festival last year.
Additionally, we highlight Arab film
participation, including:
– The Iraqi film “The President’
Cake” directed by Hassan Hadi, which had its world premiere at Cannes
in the Directors’ Week section in 2025, and won the Caméra d’Or.
– The Saudi film “Hijra”
(Migration), directed by Shahad Ameen, which had its international premiere at
the Venice Film Festival in Italy.