The “Tiro Association for Arts” and the “Istanbouli Theater” concluded the activities of the second edition of the “Lebanon International Short Film Festival” at the “Lebanese National Theater” in Tripoli, in collaboration with Stichting Doen Foundation. The festival was held from the 28th to the 30th of April as part of Tripoli’s activities as the capital of Arab culture, under the slogan “Cinema for All” and in memoriam of the late directors George Nasr and Randa Al-Shahal. The event had local and foreign participation of artists and directors and a great audience.
32 films from 18 countries ranging from fiction to documentary and animation were part of the competition. Actor and director Kassem Istanbouli, the founder of the Lebanese National Theater, stressed: “The continuation of free festivals, film screenings, and training workshops despite the current crisis is an important opportunity for the public to meet and learn about different cultures from around the world so that art is always a right for all.”
The jury, formed by Muhanna Abdullah, an actor from Saudi Arabia, Ana Cendrero Alvarez from Spain, actor Omar Mikati, director Shadi Zaidan and writer Salah Atwi from Lebanon, announced the results of the official competition of the festival which were as follows: the award for the best narrative film of the Iranian film “Al-Khazar” by Majid Rustamzadeh, the award for the best photography of the Iraqi film “My Mother’s Hand” directed by Cardina Hamen, the award for the best text of the Sudanese film “Needle and Thread” by director Nasser Youssef, the award for the best actress of Sarina Panahida for her role in the “Dark White House” by director Hardy Hassan, the award for the best actor Tafah Supervision for his role in the Jordanian film “Red Dish” by director Mohammed Khaddour, the award for the best documentary film “Kik and Sugar” directed by Youssef Zarqi and the Lebanese film “Amal Saab”, the award for the best animation film between the Italian film “The Case of Maurizio Forrestier and the Jordanian Zoo Film” by Tareemi Tarik, the jurym, the juryr for the Iraqi film “and the film” by Youssar Musa and the film “by the Iraqi director Yousser.
In conclusion, the management of the theater festival honored Rafiq Al-Rifai, historian Omar Tadmoury, actor Nazih Qamar Al-Din and member of Tiro Mahmoud Shehadi. The festival supports local cinema, cultural exchange, training workshops, seminars and discussions with filmmakers, and student project screenings.