30th European Film Festival in Lebanon Announces 2026 Lineup in Beirut

The 30th edition of the European Film Festival in Lebanon will open on October 8, 2026, at the Metropolis Cinema in Mar Mikhael, Beirut, running through October 17, 2026, according to announcements from the Delegation of the European Union to Lebanon and the Metropolis Cinema Association. Operating under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and in cooperation with EU member states, this year’s festival features a comprehensive program of 24 recent European feature films, classic restorations, regional premieres, and VR experiences.

Opening Night and Feature Film Lineup

Opening night on October 8, 2026, features the French romantic comedy La Vénus électrique directed by Pierre Salvadori, which previously opened the 79th Festival of Cannes in May 2026, as reported by festival organizers. The Franco-Belgian co-production stars Pio Marmaï, Anaïs Demoustier, Gilles Lellouche, and Vimala Pons. Set in Paris in 1928, the narrative follows a grieving painter named Antoine Balestro who attempts to communicate with his late wife through a fortune-teller, only to become entangled with a local fairground worker named Suzanne who seizes the opportunity to steal.

Additional contemporary European features anchor the multi-day schedule at Metropolis Cinema. According to L’Orient-Le Jour, Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne’s Jeunes mères screens on October 9, 2026, following five teenagers in a maternity home, while Petra Volpe’s Late Shift explores the high-pressure environment of a Swiss hospital with star Leonie Benesch. The lineup also includes Michał Kwieciński’s Chopin, Chopin! on October 9, 2026, Agnieszka Holland’s Kafka biopic Franz on October 10, 2026, Carla Simón’s family drama Romería on October 11 and 15, 2026, and Jafar Panahi’s Un simple accident on October 12, 2026.

Classic Retrospectives and Cinema Heritage

French journalist and film critic Jean-Michel Frodon will present the festival’s classic restoration section, which honors major figures in international film history. The schedule includes Andrzej Wajda’s The Maids of Wilko on October 9, 2026, commemorating the director’s birth centenary. Luigi Comencini’s La ragazza di Bube screens on October 12, 2026, as an homage to Claudia Cardinale. On October 13, 2026, Béla Tarr and Ágnes Hranitzky’s The Turin Horse will be shown in a restored version honoring Béla Tarr. Additionally, a special double screening pairs Richard Linklater’s Nouvelle Vague—introduced by Frodon—with Jean-Luc Godard’s classic À bout de souffle in its restored print.

Fidelity to silent cinema tradition continues with a live cine-concert partnership alongside Irtijal and Tunefork Studios. Charles Vanel’s 1930 silent feature Dans la nuit will be projected in a restored print courtesy of Institut Lumière, featuring a live original musical accompaniment performed by Anthony Sahyoun, Fadi Tabbal, Julia Sabra, Makram Aboul Hosn, and Pavlo Wardini.

Local Premieres and Industry Panels

The festival continues its backing of domestic cinema by hosting the Lebanese premiere of Sarah Francis’s feature film Dead Dog on October 15, 2026, which examines an expatriate couple confronting their shared history in a mountain house prior to its general theatrical release in Lebanon. The screening takes place with the director, producer Lara Abou Saifan, and the film crew in attendance.

George Peter Barbari’s short film Birthmark will receive its local premiere at the Cinéma Montaigne at the Institut français du Liban following an international run that started with its world premiere at the Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival. Furthermore, 10 short films by emerging Lebanese directors are competing for awards supported by EU member states, offering winners a trip to an international film festival in Europe via the Goethe-Institut Liban and the Institut français du Liban. In partnership with Fondation Liban Cinéma, the screening of the short film Doula will be followed by a public discussion with director Chadi Younes and producer Rolly Dib addressing artificial intelligence as a creative tool in filmmaking.

Expanded Programming and Accessibility

For the first time, the event integrates two interactive virtual reality experiences into its public offerings. Youth programming includes three youth-targeted films—featuring two animated titles and one German film dubbed into Arabic—with special screenings arranged for children from socio-economic backgrounds. Bulgarian filmmaker Tatyana Pandurska will accompany screenings of her film Wild Strawberries. The festival also hosts an animation workshop for participants aged 12 to 14 in partnership with the Youth Animation Platform (YAP), alongside a dedicated poster exhibition.