Événements

Metropolis Association is honored to inaugurate Cinematheque Beirut’s programming activities with a tribute to the Lebanese filmmaker Randa Chahal Sabbag, whose work represents both the testimony of a specific period in time, as well as an intimate look at a country that is continuously rattled by divisions and political instability. This retrospective comes in continuation of more than 20 retrospectives that Metropolis has been organizing over the years in its effort to promote Lebanese, Arab and International movie production.

With its newest initiative, and along with partner institutions and its network of contributors, Metropolis aims to launch this pilot project dedicated to the art and conservation of cinema in Lebanon. Cinematheque Beirut offers contemporary tools to work on preserving Lebanese (and Arabic) film heritage, by making verified data and documents available on the internet. The project’s main concern is to create tools and contents that are useful and accessible to as many people as possible, as well as highlight and disseminate Lebanese movie production.

This collaborative platform is destined to bring together professionals, students, local and international journalists, researchers and film enthusiasts in an environment conducive to the creation and study of cinema. Its main activities are:

– Focusing on research and archives related to Lebanese films
– Film programming through retrospectives, and organizing round tables and Master Classes
– Launching of the beta version of the online database dedicated to Lebanese cinema on June 25. Visitors of cinema Metropolis Empire Sofil between June 25 and July 1st will be introduced how to browse and use the website cinemathequebeirut.com with hands-on workshops

Ten years after her passing in 2008, Randa Chahal Sabbag’s unique vision is honored with a complete retrospective of her work. Highlighting the work of a remarkable filmmaker, this important event demonstrates the need for the preservation of a cinematographic heritage in Lebanon, while underlining Chahal Sabbag’s key role and participation in a collective movement, « a new wave », evident in Lebanese cinema today. The opening of Retrospective Randa Chahal Sabbag will take place on the evening of Monday, June 25, 2018 with the feature film « Civilised People ». Screenings will run at Metropolis Empire Sofil daily over the course of seven days. This complete retrospective of the filmmaker’s work will screen all of her feature fiction films, documentaries and short films such as « Souha, Surviving Hell », « The Infidels », « Our Heedless Wars », « The Kite » and « Lebanon Long Ago ».




This retrospective will be accompanied by a video installation, a round table on the filmmaker’s work moderated by producer Antoine Khalife, reflecting on Randa Chahal Sabbag’s work, her ideas, her ideals and her artistic vision as well as the repercussions of a movement she instigated alongside other filmmakers. Speakers include sociologist and journalist Nahla Chahal, filmmaker and journalist Mohamed Soueid, filmmaker Michel Kammoun, with the participation of actors, producers, assistants and technicians that have collaborated with the filmmaker.
An exhibition of photographs from the film sets will be on display at the halls of Metropolis Empire Sofil throughout the retrospective.

This retrospective is organized in partnership with Leil Productions, with the support of the Norwegian Embassy in Beirut.

All film screenings, as well as video installations and photos exhibition will take place at Metropolis Empire Sofil.


Programme

Monday, June 25, 2018
19:30 Opening Reception حفل استقبال
20:00 Civilised People / Civilisées متحضرات (Free entrance)
(94 min | in French, Arabic, English, Sinhalese, Filipino with English and Arabic subtitles)

Tuesday, June 26, 2018
18:00 Round table طاولة مستديرة

20:00 Lebanon Long Ago / Liban d’autrefois لبنان أيام زمان
(11 min | in Arabic with English subtitles)
Step by Step / Pas à Pas خطوة خطوة
(90 min | in Arabic, French with Arabic and English subtitles)

Wednesday, June 27, 2018
20:00 The Infidels / Les infidèles المخادعون
(86 min | in French, Arabic)

Thursday, June 28, 2018
20:00 Souha, Surviving Hell / Souha, survivre à l’enfer سهى، إرادة الحياة
(57 min | in French, Arabic with Arabic and English subtitles)

Friday, June 29, 2018
20:00 Sand Screens / Ecrans de sable شاشات الرمل
(90 min | in French, Arabic with Arabic and English subtitles)

Saturday, June 30, 2018
20:00 The Kite / Le Cerf-volant طيارة من ورق
(80 min | in Arabic with English subtitles)

Sunday, July 1st, 2018
20:00 Our Heedless Wars / Nos guerres imprudentes حروبنا الطائشة
(52 min | in Arabic, French with French and Arabic subtitles)