Lebanon Cinema Days in Canada - Awards 2025

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Four short stories explore the turmoil of recent years in Lebanon, highlighting the psychological effects of the country's collapse on a generation of youth striving to confront and cope with ongoing injustices.

RATED 18+

Five friends, one mission, 7000 $ in ten days

 A group of friends in Lebanon decide to shoot the first Lebanese pornographic film as a way to raise money. 

Angie (34) takes her father Mansour (74) on a roadtrip from Brussels to Beirut by car in an attempt to retrace the same path he took 42 years ago. However, the route is no longer the same, and neither is their relationship.

The Third of the Rahbanis chronicles the extraordinary journey of the late Lebanese composer Elias El Rahbani, who carved his own unique path distinct from his renowned brothers, Assi and Mansour. Elias's innovative compositions and collaborations have left an indelible mark on the Arab music world, cementing his legacy as a visionary artist.

In late 2023, during the war on Gaza, 18 Lebanese filmmakers came together to express their feelings through letters they exchanged and turned into short films. The work on these films was completed in late May 2024, without them realizing that the full-scale aggression was heading their way, making Lebanon the next target for destruction.

Set during the Lebanese revolution, WE NEVER LEFT portrays a heart-wrenching duality between Beirut and New York, an impassioned testament to the Lebanese diaspora’s unrequited but irrepressible love for their homeland.

A film by Philippe Falardeau, Written by Alain Farah, with the Great Actor and Artist Georges Khabbaz; starring Lebanese actors Hiam Abou Chedid, Natalie Tannous, and others

 Alain weds Virginie at Saint-Joseph Oratory's crypt. Despite family attending, including his divorced Lebanese-Egyptian immigrant parents, his joy fades as insomnia, anxiety, and illness return. 

A retrospective on Ziad Doueiri's masterpeice West Beirut and a discussion with Actress Carmen Lebbos

 Growing up is only half the battle. In 1975, as the Lebanese civil war erupts, childhood friends Tarek and Omar find their lives shattered by the conflict. When they attempt to cross the city’s dividing line from West to East—where Muslim and Christian neighborhoods meet—their loyalties and survival are tested amid escalating violence.  

A tribute to Ziad Rahbani  and a discussion with Actress Carmen Lebbos 

 Bel Nesbe La boukra Chou is a play by Ziad Rahbani set during the Lebanese Civil War, depicting the struggles of a bartender, Zakaria, and his wife, Thorayya, who take on increasingly desperate measures to survive the high cost of living and poverty in Beirut. The play uses a trendy bar as a microcosm for Lebanese society, with characters representing different social forces and classes. The story explores themes of social inequality, economic hardship, and the moral choices people make to survive, culminating in Zakaria's powerful monologue expressing frustration with the unchanging, dire situation.  

Samar, Jude and Imad are 11-year-old school friends. Imad is shy and constantly anxious to fail. Jude is smart and spends his time playing. And Samar is a strong girl who is dyslexic. While they are all preparing for the Arabic exam the next day, Samar struggles with a poem about the sea. Reading it with difficulty, she decides that instead of going to school to recite a poem about the sea, she will go to the sea itself. 

Palestinian family trying to take a birthday picture during the war.

At 14 years old, Zinia discreetly steals the spare keys of her own house, after her parents decide to sell it subsequently to a murder of three family members. Today at 21 Zinia uses these keys as a healing tool to her and her Family.

"IN - OUT"  follows the journey of 12 year old SAMA and 10 years old YASMINE from the day they arrive to their grandmother’s house because of their parents’ sudden divorce.  

The sisters struggle to adapt to their new living situation and cope with the emotional fallout.  

When Sama gets her first period she struggles to hide it from her grandmother, the absence of her mother’s presence during this significant milestone was deeply felt lacking knowledge of this experience. 

“Quell” is a visual and emotional exploration of the beauty and depth found in the blending of nature and the human spirit. The film follows the transformative journey of a single droplet as it navigates through five layers of a woman's personality, intertwining the essence of nature with the complexities of human emotion.

A documentary that follows Ziggy, a rapper living in a refugee camp. Through his music, Ziggy expresses the hardships that shaped his life and finds a voice for the voiceless in his community.

On a rainy night, Anas hears an odd sound transmission that lures him to the basement of a deserted building, where an old tragedy is provoked to reoccur on the same date, fifty five years later.

After an incident shoves her into the spotlight, an aspiring actress now has to take on the hardest role of her life; the role of an aspiring actress. 

Former best friends Leba and Maria reunite at their old school. As they explore the empty halls, they revisit their shared past and confront unresolved emotions, all centered around a purple chair. 

Tarek navigates the emotional journey between a broken Lebanon and a crumbling family, finding refuge through the lens of his camera.

As her husband takes over the preparations for their daughter's engagement ceremony, an unhappy Muslim housewife hides in her bathroom and drinks vodka.

"Behind the Filter" addresses a critical and often overlooked aspect of modern society: the impact of social media and societal expectations on the self-image and well-being of women. In recent years, there has been a surge in discussions surrounding body positivity and mental health awareness, this documentary seeks to fill that gap by shedding light on the unique challenges faced by women during their life. 

After fleeing his privileged but stifling life, young Gabriel finds himself in a remote village, desperate enough to steal canned food. His clumsy attempt is interrupted by Ward, a charming older Lebanese woman who offers him shelter. Taken aback by her suspicious kindness, Gabriel decides to rob her but finds himself sticking around longer than expected. As days stretch into weeks, their interactions give way to an unusual connection. Together, they navigate a fragile balance between mistrust and intimacy, discovering in each other what they didn’t realize they were searching for.

The Resilience of the Poppy dives into Lebanon’s stand-up comedy scene, where laughter is a survival mechanism, despite a backdrop of war. Through the sharp wit of comedians like Wissam Kamal, Chaker Bou Abdalla, John Achkar, Stephanie Ghalbouni, and Mohamad Baalbaki, the documentary reveals how humor empowers Lebanese people to confront their toughest challenges. It’s a compelling story of resilience, where every joke becomes a tool to push back against hardship and keep hope alive, showcasing Lebanon’s unbreakable spirit. 

Determined to have her first kiss, Loulwa defies her tumultuous world in search of normalcy. As she braves the streets of Beirut in pursuit of her sexual awakening, she finds herself taking an instant leap into adulthood when her world erupts into a redefined "normal".  

 A quiet night, an uninvited presence from the past. 

Reem, a suicide hotline operator, has to convince Katy, a young caller, to tell the police about the domestic abuse happening in her house. But their similar family background makes Reem’s job harder.

A documentary that traces the life of Elayas, 

who is renowned for his delicious apple pies and his capacity to bring humor into casual discussions. 

Elias makes his way through the busy days with a 

smile on his face, bringing happiness and fun with 

him wherever he goes. Come along on a pleasant 

adventure as we discover how Elias spreads his 

infectious laughter to everyone around him and finds enjoyment in life's small pleasures.

In the 19th century, in the Levant region, Salma Zahore, along with her parents and neighbors, participated in a photoshoot using a long exposure technique. At the end of it, Salma decided to take off her coat, revealing her body. Unaware of the chaos this gesture could cause within her circle, she did not know it could lead to shame

Anas, a comic sketch artist in his late twenties, confronts grief for the first time following the loss of a cherished individual. This profound event propels him into an emotional rollercoaster, compelling him to navigate a transformative journey where he must confront the harsh realities of life. Will he find closure?

A widow juggling to take care of her three kids is forced to move forward with her life when her sister Hoda finally decides to step in. 

This anime-doc stitches together colorful fragments of the personal life of Alia, a Lebanese woman. Growing up facing war and displacement, searching and not finding freedom, she forms a friendship with a would-be superhero on the shore of Beirut called Abu Samra. She trains with him and their monsters meet. Together, Alia and Abu Samra survive by finding comfort in the insanity that the city has sown in them.  When the Lebanese revolution starts on 17 October 2019 they realize they are not alone.

"Yaroun 2023” is a poignant short film that navigates the emotional journey of an immigrant caught between two worlds amidst escalating tensions in South Lebanon. Set against the backdrop of looming conflict, the film follows the protagonist as he seeks solace and refuge under the shelter of the Australian flag, a symbol of safety in a tumultuous landscape. 

Siham and her goldfish, Tooteh, find themselves trapped in a half-empty house by an oppressive system that lives inside their walls and will soon begin demolishing them. As danger approaches, Siham uses her imagination to process her pain and resist the oppression.

The story follows Mounir as he grapples with masculinity and societal expectations. In a surreal exploration of identity and tradition, his attempt to break free leads to a haunting confrontation with his own limitations, mirroring the myth of Icarus.

A documentary that traces the life of Elayas, 

who is renowned for his delicious apple pies and his capacity to bring humor into casual discussions. 

Elias makes his way through the busy days with a 

smile on his face, bringing happiness and fun with 

him wherever he goes. Come along on a pleasant 

adventure as we discover how Elias spreads his 

infectious laughter to everyone around him and finds enjoyment in life's small pleasures.

Sara, a twenty-year-old veiled woman, fills her diary with stories she hears from people in cafes, recording them on her voice recorder. One day, she overhears a story about Mariam, a waitress at her regular cafe, allegedly stealing money with the help of a young man named Jad. As Sara attends university, she encounters the same accusation and becomes determined to uncover the truth by getting closer to Mariam. While eavesdropping on a conversation between Mariam and Jad at the cafe, Sara nearly gets caught but manages to hide in the bathrooms. Despite not being discovered, she decides to abandon her diary and stop recording people's stories after hearing a false rumor about herself: "Did you hear that Sara took off her hijab?"

Yara is a young girl who is going through a difficult time after the death of her mother. We follow her in her daily life, experiencing her heavy burdens and responsibilities when it comes to her home and father. After receiving a sign that she considers to have been sent by her mother, Yara's life starts to improve until she suddenly sees her mother by the sea and talks to her. This helps her to come to terms her grief and her mother's eternal absence.

Sarah and Alex live with their parents in Lebanon and enjoy escaping into their imaginary world. One day, the family receives unexpected news that will change their lives forever.

A unique film about intense love between two people living in a surreal world. It’s a beautiful celebration of desire and extreme passion. The connection between both characters is controlled by dreamlike forces of love.  

This film is an emotional exploration of the intricate connections between family, time, and the hidden stories that shape our lives. It's a contemplation of how our personal 'little hearts' are both preserved and concealed within the intimate spaces of the unspoken legacy of family history.  

Sultana of New York is a Palestinian drag queen, performer, and artist. "Sultana’s Reign" opens with a conversation with Sultana, as she is being painted by Jordanian artist, RIDIKKULUZ.   

Reflecting on her journey from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, to then New York, Sultana tells of the challenges of performing drag in conservative societies, her nostalgia for the glory days and the glamour of Egyptian cinema icons, and her struggle to prove her existence and her self-expression as a performer and artist. She also shares  her love of celebration and her everlasting commitment to be true to herself. 

Set in 1956, 8 year old Nabil navigates through new social norms he cannot fathom that impact his next door best friend in post nationalized Egypt. Inspired by true events.