One day. Nine short films, two documentaries and an internationally acclaimed feature. A celebration of Lebanese cinema that Halifax should not miss!
On Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Lebanese Film Festival in Canada (LFFC) continues its tenth-anniversary celebrations at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, offering audiences a full day of films exploring Lebanese culture, identity, family, humour, music and the realities of contemporary life.
From emerging filmmakers to internationally recognized directors, the program demonstrates the creativity and diversity of Lebanese cinema.
The day’s major attraction will be A Sad and Beautiful World, an award-winning feature by director Cyril Aris, followed by a discussion with Dr. Pamela Nassour, filmmaker, cinema scholar and Vice-President of Artistic Direction and Curation at LFFC.
For Lebanese Canadians, film enthusiasts and Nova Scotians interested in discovering another culture, Sunday promises an experience well worth attending.
A Full Sunday of Lebanese Cinema
The program begins at 11 a.m. with a selection of short films offering different perspectives on Lebanese society.
The first session includes The President’s Visit, a political satire directed by Cyril Aris, alongside How I Became “The Astray,” Dimmed Colors and Roua.
At 12:30 p.m., Four of Swords, directed by Salim Mrad, explores personal reflection and healing against the backdrop of Beirut’s difficulties in 2021.
A second short-film session follows at 2 p.m., featuring 25 – Twenty-Five, An Attempt, Jedo’s Dead and The Space Between Us.
These screenings offer an opportunity to discover emerging talent, unconventional storytelling and the personal experiences that inspire Lebanese filmmakers.
At 4 p.m., the festival turns to one of Lebanon’s most celebrated cultural legacies with The Third Rahbani, a documentary directed by Fayrouz Serhal. The film examines the extraordinary career of composer Elias Rahbani, whose music helped shape generations of Lebanese and Arab cultural life.
From political satire and intimate human stories to musical history, Sunday’s program offers something for every generation.
The Evening Highlight: A Sad and Beautiful World
The day’s principal attraction begins at 6:30 p.m. with A Sad and Beautiful World, a film that has already attracted considerable international recognition.
Can love survive when the country you call home seems determined to make life impossible?
And when does staying become an act of courage, while leaving becomes an act of survival?
These questions are central to Cyril Aris’s film, which follows Nino and Yasmina, two people whose lives remain connected across three decades of Lebanese history.
Their relationship begins in childhood, but their dreams eventually collide with political instability, economic hardship and uncertainty about the future.
Nino, an optimistic restaurateur, believes in building a life in Lebanon.
Yasmina, an economic consultant, questions whether love and determination are sufficient foundations for a secure future.
Should they remain in Lebanon, surrounded by family and everything they love, or leave in search of stability and opportunity?
From Venice to Halifax: International Recognition
A Sad and Beautiful World premiered at the 2025 Venice Film Festival, competing in the prestigious Giornate degli Autori, or Venice Days, section.
It won the section’s Audience Award, reflecting its strong reception among international moviegoers.
The film subsequently received an Audience Award at Spain’s Valladolid International Film Festival and a Best Screenplay award at Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea International Film Festival.
It was also selected as Lebanon’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 98th Academy Awards.
Beyond the Screening: A Conversation with Dr. Pamela Nassour
The evening will conclude with a discussion following the screening with Dr. Pamela Nassour.
Holding a PhD in Cinema, Dr. Nassour is an award-winning filmmaker, researcher, university educator and journalist whose four films have received international festival recognition.
Her short film An Attempt is also featured in Sunday’s program.
Her participation will offer audiences an opportunity to explore the film’s themes and artistic dimensions beyond the screening itself.
November 8: An Invitation to All Nova Scotians
This celebration is not exclusively for Lebanese Canadians.
Everyone who appreciates powerful storytelling, international cinema and meaningful cultural exchange is welcome.
The evening feature will be presented in Arabic with English subtitles.
Whether you attend one screening or spend the entire day discovering Lebanese filmmaking, Sunday offers an opportunity to experience stories that deserve a wider audience.
Bring your family, friends and colleagues. Invite someone who has never experienced Lebanese cinema.
Let’s make the festival’s tenth anniversary a celebration worthy of its achievements!
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Make Sunday, November 8, a Date with Lebanese Cinema
📍 Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
1055 Marginal Road, Halifax
📅 Sunday, November 8, 2026
11:00 a.m. — Short Films, Session 1
12:30 p.m. — Four of Swords
2:00 p.m. — Short Films, Session 2
4:00 p.m. — The Third Rahbani
6:00 p.m. — Doors open for the evening feature
6:30 p.m. — A Sad and Beautiful World, followed by a discussion with Dr. Pamela Nassour
🎟️ Reserve Your Place!
Don’t wait to hear afterward about the films and conversations you could have experienced firsthand.
Lebanon’s stories deserve to be seen, heard and discussed.
On November 8, let’s give them the audience they deserve!
