Opening film of the Italian Film Festival in Lebanon "Primavera" by Damiano Michieletto. (Photo provided by the Italian Embassy of Lebanon)
At a time when Italian films are either absent from commercial circuits or at best lost in the fog of general, uncurated programming, Beirut's Metropolis Cinema is instead dedicating a full 10 days to hosting the second edition of the Italian Film Festival, the only one in the region solely dedicated to Italy's big screen.From Jan. 21 to 30, 2026, Metropolis will screen one movie a day, each starting at 8 p.m., to offer an understated and prolonged setup that favors sustained focus over event-driven noise and pomp.Supported by the Italian Embassy in Lebanon and the Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut, in partnership with Metropolis, the festival maintains a low-key editorial approach. The objective is less about showcasing the heritage of Italian cinema and more about presenting the industry as it is today, shaped by a new era,...
At a time when Italian films are either absent from commercial circuits or at best lost in the fog of general, uncurated programming, Beirut's Metropolis Cinema is instead dedicating a full 10 days to hosting the second edition of the Italian Film Festival, the only one in the region solely dedicated to Italy's big screen.From Jan. 21 to 30, 2026, Metropolis will screen one movie a day, each starting at 8 p.m., to offer an understated and prolonged setup that favors sustained focus over event-driven noise and pomp.Supported by the Italian Embassy in Lebanon and the Italian Cultural Institute in Beirut, in partnership with Metropolis, the festival maintains a low-key editorial approach. The objective is less about showcasing the heritage of Italian cinema and more about presenting the industry as it is today, shaped by a new...
