Ici Beyrouth - culture

Boualem Sansal's Arrest: Literary Giants Unite Against Algerian Oppression

Bélinda Ibrahim, 24/11 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

France Algeria Literature Writer Culture

The arrest of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal upon his arrival at Algiers airport on November 16 has sparked outrage across the literary world and beyond. At 75 years old, this committed intellectual, who became a French citizen in 2024, is known for his courageous stance against Islamism and totalitarianism. His detention by Algerian ...

Cinemas Anticipate 'Glicked' Phenomenon with 'Gladiator II' and 'Wicked'

This is Beirut, 22/11 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Box Office Movie Culture

Gladiator II marks Ridley Scott's return to ancient Rome, 24 years after his first epic, which won the Oscar for Best Picture. Wicked brings to the big screen the renowned Broadway musical, chronicling the adventures of the witch from The Wizard of Oz. Produced by industry giants Paramount and Universal respectively, both films are backed by ...

"Stop War": Beirut Art Film Festival Launches its 10th Edition Against All Odds

This is Beirut, 21/11 10:30 - Reading : 5 minute(s)

Culture Cinema Festival Beirut

The Beirut Art Film Festival will run from November 25 to December 6 at the Bibliothèque Orientale, featuring 25 films, an exhibition, and conferences. This year’s event celebrates art as a powerful act of resilience and a universal call for peace under the theme Stop War. Having postponed the announcement of its program in October ...

'Gladiator III' Already in Progress, Director Ridley Scott Confirms

This is Beirut, 20/11 10:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Culture Cinema Film

Ridley Scott's highly anticipated Gladiator sequel has yet to debut in US theaters, but the veteran director is already deep into planning a third installment. Gladiator II, set to hit North American cinemas this Friday, stars Irish actor Paul Mescal (Normal People) as Lucius, the son of Russell Crowe's Maximus from the multiple Oscar-winning ...

Beirut Chants: Resilience Through Music and Community

This is Beirut, 19/11 16:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Beirut Chants Festival Culture

“No sound rises above the sound of music.” “Beirut Chants has never been a ‘festival’ in the conventional sense. For us and our loyal fans, Beirut Chants has always been a shared space, a reflection of our diverse community's determination, solidarity, and authenticity. It is where all Lebanese come together, no matter how tough the ...

Rising Stars: Lebanese Conservatory Talents Take Berlin by Storm

This is Beirut, 18/11 18:00 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Culture Berlin Lebanon Music

The Lebanese National Higher Conservatory of Music (The Conservatory) has achieved a new milestone on the international stage. Thirteen teams of students, from both the Eastern and Western music departments, earned awards in Berlin’s 9th Rising Stars Grand Prix 2024 – International Music Competition. This globally renowned event ...

A Noel Gallagher Guitar Sells for Over €271,000

This is Beirut, 17/11 14:00 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Auctions Guitar Music Culture

A guitar that belonged to Noel Gallagher, the lead guitarist and songwriter of Oasis, was sold at a Bonhams auction in London for an impressive £226,800, which equates to over €271,000. The instrument, a red Gibson Custom Shop Florentine Les Paul, was a key element in the Britpop icon’s collection during the height of the band’s fame in the ...

Caracalla Carries Baalbeck's Timeless Spirit to World Stages

Marie-Christine Tayah, 16/11 18:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Baalbeck Caracalla Culture Beijing Lebanon

Amid Lebanon's ongoing challenges, Caracalla Dance Theater recently showcased its enduring strength and cultural pride on the world stage. Invited to represent Lebanon at Beijing Forum for Performing Arts (BFPA) 2024, held at the National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) in Beijing, Caracalla joined over 60 arts institutions from across the ...

Turkey Revives Hammam Tradition with Restorations and Museums

This is Beirut, 14/11 14:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Turkey Hammam Culture

For centuries, hammams were central to Ottoman society, but they mostly fell out of use with the advent of running water. Today, many in Turkey are being restored to revive an ancient ritual bathing tradition. A mainstay of old Turkish films, hammam scenes were highly entertaining—a free space where women socialized, ate, drank, and even ...

Hidden 17th-Century Frescoes Found in Roman Villa’s Ceiling

This is Beirut, 14/11 10:30 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Art Italy Culture

A hidden treasure of 17th-century frescoes has been uncovered in Villa Farnesina, Rome. Rosy-cheeked cherubs, preserved in vivid hues of blue, red, and gold, adorn the paintings concealed for centuries above the vaulted ceiling of what was once the living room of Agostino Chigi, a prominent banker and Renaissance patron. Chigi had the villa ...

Elie Saab Enchants Riyadh for His 45th Anniversary

Béatrice Moreau, 14/11 01:00 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Elie Saab Fashion Culture Show Lebanon Ryadh

On November 14, 2024, Riyadh's Boulevard City transformed into a luxurious, magical setting to host 1001 Seasons, a breathtaking fashion and music event celebrating the 45-year career of Lebanese designer Elie Saab. Under the artistic direction of Carine Roitfeld, former editor-in-chief of Vogue France, the show presented no fewer than 300 new ...

John Malkovich’s Anti-War Comedy Sparks Nationalist Outrage in Bulgaria

Madeleine Cadoux, 13/11 10:30 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Theater Culture Art

John Malkovich's direction of Arms and the Man, a satirical 19th-century play by George Bernard Shaw, has stirred intense reactions among nationalist groups in Bulgaria. These groups argue that the production insults the country and misrepresents its history, an accusation Malkovich has dismissed as far-right agitation. The premiere, held ...

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