- Title: Art Film Festival brings international documentaries to Lebanese audience
- Date: 9th November 2016
- Summary: BEIRUT, LEBANON (NOVEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) BANNER READING (English): '8-20 NOV 2016. BAFF. BEIRUT ART FILM FESTIVAL' VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GATHERING IN HALL AHEAD OF THE OPENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ONE OF THE FESTIVAL'S FOUNDERS, ALICE MOGABGAB, SAYING: "Art is a right for everyone, it is an important right for all people everywhere, so it should reach all cities in Lebanon." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE IN FRONT OF CINEMA ENTRANCE AHEAD OF THE OPENING CEREMONY AND SCREENING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE DIRECTOR PARTICIPATING IN THE FESTIVAL, BAHIJ HOJEIJ, SAYING: "First of all, this is very important for documentaries because documentaries are important and are themselves considered as a school. Secondly, films discussing art in general - be it theatre, cinema, painting, etc... - to be allocated a special festival is an important thing in itself; because I think it has to do with general culture and general culture is honestly a little neglected in Lebanon." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING THE OPENING, WAITING PEOPLE SEATED / SCREEN SHOWING BAFF LOGO PEOPLE TAKING TO THEIR SEATS VARIOUS OF PEOPLE SEATED BEIRUT, LEBANON (NOVEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (French) FRENCH DIRECTOR PARTICIPATING IN THE FESTIVAL, PHILIPPE KOHLY, SAYING: "These kinds of films are reasons for living, they are the films about humanity and beauty. It is very important to form a counterweight to everything happening in the world from violence and politics, here - as long as I am concerned - we are talking about Humans, about men and women with important journeys. And so, for me, these are reasons for living, reasons to breathe and get to know important personalities." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE ATTENDING SCREENINGS ON THE FIRST DAY OF BEIRUT ART FILM FESTIVAL BANNER SHOWING BAFF LOGO WITH DETAILS ABOUT THE FESTIVAL BEIRUT, LEBANON (NOVEMBER 7, 2016) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) LEBANESE FILMMAKER AND PRODUCER, SOULA SAAD, SAYING: "It is very important to have documentaries screened in Lebanon and not only in Beirut because these are films that are usually hard to find in cinema theatres. This is the art of cinema, not the thriller action, so I find - especially in such situation - there is nothing better than being in an atmosphere like this watching what other people are creating in art, as Lebanon is very alive when it comes to art." BEIRUT, LEBANON (NOVEMBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERING IN CINEMA HALL IN-BETWEEN SCREENINGS
- Embargoed: 24th November 2016 13:13
- Keywords: Lebanon film documentary Beirut culture
- Location: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- City: BEIRUT, LEBANON
- Country: Lebanon
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,Film
- Reuters ID: LVA00157PZWID
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Audiences across Lebanon will have access to dozens of international documentaries as part of the Beirut Art Film Festival.
The event, now in its second year will showcase films in universities and cultural centres in not only Beirut, but Tripoli, Tyre, Nabatieh and Sidon.
Alice Mogabgab is one of the festival founders, she says access to such events is important for everyone.
"Art is a right for everyone, it is an important right for all people everywhere, so it should reach all cities in Lebanon,'' she said ahead of a screening.
The 12-day event officially opened on Monday (November 7) with public screenings starting the following day.
Among the Lebanese films to be screened as part of BAFF are five documentaries by director Bahij Hojeij that discuss different aspects of Lebanon's heritage.
"This is very important for documentaries because documentaries are important and are themselves considered as a school. Second, films discussing art in general - be it theatre, cinema, painting, etc... - to be allocated a special festival is an important thing by itself; because I think it has to do with general culture and general culture is honestly a little neglected in Lebanon," said Hojeij.
Some of the venues include a cafe on the country's former frontline in the northern city of Tripoli, and theatres in the south, reopened after a two decade shutdown.
The cinematic event is also an opportunity for foreign filmmakers to showcase their work, as well as for Lebanese filmmakers based outside the country.
"These kinds of films are reasons for living, they are the films about humanity and beauty. It is very important to form a counterweight to everything happening in the world from violence and politics, here - as long as I am concerned - we are talking about Humans, about men and women with important journeys. And so, for me, these are reasons for living, reasons to breath and get to know important personalities, '' said French director Philippe Kohly who is screening 'Alain Delon, cet inconnu', 'Marlon Brando, un acteur nommé désir' and 'Callas Assoluta'.
Lebanese filmmaker and producer Soula Saad is among those attending the festival.
"It is very important to have documentaries screened in Lebanon and not only in Beirut because these are films that are usually hard to find in cinema theatres. This is the art of cinema, not the thriller action, so I find - especially in such situation - there is nothing better than being in an atmosphere like this watching what other people are creating in art, as Lebanon is very alive when it comes to art,'' said Saad who is based between Los Angeles and Paris.
BAFF kicked off with British TV presenter Alan Yentob's profile of the late iconic architect Zaha Hadid.
Eight documentaries will be screened daily during BAFF's first week at Beirut's Metropolis Sofil Cinema.
The festival ends on November 20. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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