“… in Lebanon, you feel free, free to speak your mind, free to simply be yourself,” said the newly appointed EU ambassador to Lebanon Sandra De Waele in her opening speech.
The new European Union ambassador to Lebanon, Sandra De Waele, kicked off the 28th edition of the European Film Festival in Lebanon at the Sursock Museum in the evening of Monday, September 25.
In a speech delivered on the occasion, De Waele recalled that the first European film festival in Lebanon was held 30 years ago, in 1993, adding that “these three decades are very telling of the strong cultural ties between us.”
She said she first visited Lebanon some ten years ago, and “quickly felt a connection” with the country. “Maybe it is due to the mix of languages we hear on the streets, the cultural diversity that reminds us of Europe or the variety of Lebanon’s landscapes,” she confided.
“But without any doubt, it is also – maybe even most importantly – the fact that in Lebanon, you feel free, free to speak your mind, free to simply be yourself,” she added.
“Over the years, the Festival grew into a platform to promote creativity and defend freedom of expression. It has become a welcoming space for us to come together and exchange on issues that matter to both Lebanese and Europeans. This is reflected every year in the varied selection of films proposed by our member states,” she went on to say.
She pointed out that “this year’s program includes 27 feature films from different European Union countries” and that “there’s something for everyone: restored classics for nostalgic fans, cartoons for children, a ciné-concert for music lovers and much more.”
The EU ambassador noted that “many Lebanese movies have made it to international festivals. And this is something to be proud of. To honor Lebanese cinema, the European Film Festival will close on October 4, with the premiere of Riverbed, by Lebanese director Bassem Breish.”
“We will also continue the tradition of screening short films produced by young, emerging Lebanese filmmakers, and we will be awarding prizes to the best among them,” she added.
Spanish ambassador Jesús Santos Aguado subsequently took the floor to introduce the opening film, Ramona.
For more information about the program, please click here
