Up And Down Beirut
The Beirut Film Society proudly announces the launch of Lebanon Cinema Days in Canada 2025, marking the 9th
edition of its pioneering work in cultural diplomacy in Canada. This flagship event is a cinematic and cultural
celebration uniting Lebanon and its diaspora through the transformative power of film.
The festival will unfold from October 1 to 5, 2025, with a resplendent Opening Gala at Montréal’s Théâtre Rialto,
alongside a distinguished parallel program in Ottawa on October 4 and 5. For five days, both cities will be transformed
into luminous stages for Lebanon’s cultural pride and artistic legacy.
The Opening Gala will be graced by Guest of Honor Carmen Lebbos, a towering figure in Lebanese cinema and theater,
followed by a heartfelt tribute to the immortal genius Ziad Rahbani, whose music and words continue to inspire
generations. Adding their brilliance to the evening, Carlos Azar, Badih Abou Chacra, and Michel Hourany will appear
as Special Guests, celebrating the enduring creativity of Lebanon.
The ceremony will be masterfully guided by acclaimed media and social figure Karen Boustany as Master of Ceremony.
The evening will reach its climax with a music performance by Michel Fadel and Lara Rain, in collaboration with JPAL
Productions, in addition to the special participation of the violinist Chady Jarour and of Johnny Harb and the band.
The festival’s official program features 8 feature films and 30 short films, premiering for the first time in Canada,
offering audiences unforgettable encounters with the creativity, resilience, and storytelling power of Lebanon’s
filmmakers.
In addition to Montréal’s opening events, Ottawa will host special screenings and star encounters on October 4 and 5,
giving audiences the chance to meet renowned Lebanese actors and celebrate Lebanese cinema in the heart of Canada’s
capital.
A distinguished professional jury will preside over the competitions, culminating in the presentation of the Lebanon
Cinema Days Awards at the Closing Ceremony on October 5, honoring visionary voices shaping the future of cinema.
Lebanon Cinema Days in Canada is proudly part of the Lebanese Diaspora Film Festivals Network, an initiative of the
Beirut Film Society that extends across continents. The network includes Lebanon Cinema Days in the USA and the
UK, the Lebanese Film Festival in Latin America (Mexico City), and Lebanese film festivals in Australia and
France—a cultural bridge connecting Lebanon to its global diaspora through the universal language of cinema.
More than a festival, Lebanon Cinema Days in Canada is a constellation of art, memory, and belonging—a luminous
bridge between Lebanon and its diaspora, orchestrated with the vision and mission of the Beirut Film Society.
Tickets are available on: www.eveenty.com
Contact: +961 79 169 129 // 877-377-2372 (BFSC)
Email: beirutfilmsociety@gmail.com lebanoncinemadays@gmail.com
Instagram: @beirutfilmsociety @lebanoncinemadays
