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In an era where multiple cities along the Mediterranean and in the Arab world are building museums to honor the past and celebrate the present, Trāblus stands out as a city-museum alive in its entirety. The Beirut Art Film Festival (BAFF) will showcase this particularity from April 15 until June 3, 2024, through 9 panel discussions led by 35 speakers who will illuminate the historical, current and future perspectives of Trāblus. Admission is free, with no reservation required.
Three millennia old, Trāblus is propelled by its citizens’ fervent adoration for its splendors. The city’s vibrant life and cultural wealth makes it the country’s “second capital.” Which its charming port of Mina and many natural graces, Trāblus is firmly embedded in the collective memory.
The Beirut Art Film Festival (BAFF) celebrates Trāblus as the “Cultural Capital of the Arab World 2024” and a timeless Jewel on the Mediterranean. Alice Mogabgab, the festival’s artistic director and founder, stated, “The choice of Tripoli was made because it is the cultural capital of the Arab world, and we have named it the Jewel on the Mediterranean.” “Tripoli is undoubtedly the most significant city in Lebanon,” she affirms, “not just in terms of heritage, but also in film culture, and literature… It houses true treasures and stands as a beacon on the Mediterranean. However, this city is at risk. This is what we will address as BAFF, though our title is Jewel on the Mediterranean. This title indeed denounces the lack of maintenance and the absence of projects to protect the monuments, buildings and heritage. We will thus cover topics as diverse as architecture, literature, film, music, and of course, the city itself. To conclude the festival, these four outstanding young women – Sarah Al Charif, Lea Baroudi, Lamya Karkour and Anastasia Elrouss – look towards the future, aiming to propel society forward. With their intelligence and remarkable work, they embody a form of hope for the city, not only in Tripoli but for all Lebanese.” “It is a festival that highlights the alarming situation in many areas, notably heritage conservation, but also the roots of this new generation, which is doing beautiful work while becoming increasingly aware of the rich capital of this northern capital,” Alice Mogabgab attests.
This special edition of BAFF dedicated to Trāblus’ human and cultural capital would not have been possible without the support of the Saadallah and Loubna Khalil Foundation, the AUB Center for Arts and Humanities, the Théâtre Béryte, and the Faculty of Music and Musicology at Antonine University, alongside all the speakers participating in the 9 panel discussions: Mohamad Abi Samra, Prof Nidaa Abou Mrad, Sarah Al Charif, Sissi Baba, Lea Baroudi, Carlos Chahine, Zeina Daccache, Dr. Zahida Darwiche Jabbour, Joudy El-Asmar, Anastasia Elrouss, Nicolas Fayad, Dr. Nahed Ghazal, Mounzer Hamze, Dr. Nabil Itani, Mouhamad Jabakhanji, Dr. Jean Jabbour, Dr. Hany Kahwagi-Janho, Lamya Karkour, Sally Kassem, Dr. Maha Kayal, Charles Kettaneh, Elias Khlat, Nicolas Khoury, Dr. Yasmine Makaroun, Dr. Mousbah Rajab, Zeina Saleh Kayali, Feyrouz Serhal, Dr. Jean Touma, Dr. Jean Yasmine, Dr. Hayaf Yassine, Hady Zaccak, Bassem Zawdeh, Dr. Fadl Ziade, Dr. Khaled Ziade. The event also benefited from the advice and presence of Dr. Fares El Dahdah, Hind Darwiche, Dr. Toufic El Khoury, Dr. Stephanie Jabre, and Dr. Rawya Majzoub.
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