Beirut’s Metropolis Cinema confirms it will proceed with the second edition of its South Screens (Écrans du Sud) film festival despite an escalation in Israel’s air strikes in Lebanon. The festival is scheduled to run from May 28 through June 6. It opens on Thursday with the documentary “And The Fish Fly Above Our Heads,” directed by Dima El-Horr, which examines the effects of conflict and Lebanon’s economic crisis.
Multiple outlets report that the cinema’s leadership is planning to host the festival as scheduled, with organizers emphasizing continuity for audiences and filmmakers during a period marked by uncertainty and bombing. Variety additionally reports that the festival’s program includes attendance by filmmaker Oliver Laxe, aligning with the event’s focus on regional and independent cinema.
Metropolis Cinema chief Hania Mroue is quoted describing the decision to stage the festival during the strikes, framing the event as an effort to create something with meaning while the country faces ongoing war-related disruption.
