A view shows part of the venue where the Fameck Arab Film Festival is held. (Fameck Arab Film Festival)
The Fameck Arab Film Festival has long stood as France's gateway to the cinemas of the Arab world. Now with the festival in its 36th year, the Moselle town, located in the Grand Est region, northeastern France, will once again open its doors to audiences from October 2 to 12, offering a celebration of stories, images and voices that cross borders.
This year, Lebanon takes centre stage with a programme that celebrates the creativity, diversity and resilience of its film-makers.
Against the backdrop of overlapping political and economic crises at home, Lebanese cinema continues to assert itself as a space of free expression, weaving together poetry, memory and political engagement, the festival's organisers said.
The Fameck festival will showcase more than 15 Lebanese films across fiction, documentary and animation, ranging from retrospectives to new works. Each screening will be enriched by conversations with directors, giving audiences the chance to engage directly with the artists and explore the themes behind their work.
But Lebanon is only one chapter in a broader cinematic journey. The festival's programme also embraces around 40 films from across the Arab world, unfolding through competitions, special screenings and side events.
Juries composed of cultural professionals will award several distinctions, including the coveted Audience Award. Parallel events, from round tables and workshops to sessions for young audiences, will extend the festival beyond the screen, making it an immersive cultural experience.
Organised by the U A S F Cité Sociale de Fameck and the Ligue de l'Enseignement - Fédération des Œuvres Laïques de la Moselle, the Fameck Arab Film Festival has become one of the most anticipated fixtures of the autumn cultural calendar in the Grand Est region.
In total, more than 110 screenings will be presented, featuring productions from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Palestine, Iraq and, of course, Lebanon.
The festival's prize list is set to include the Grand Prix for best feature film, the Young Jury Prize, the Press Jury Prize, the Audience Award and the Documentary Prize.
A non-competitive section, "Opening to the World," will further broaden the scope with a selection of films that push beyond Arab borders.
With its rich blend of screenings, debates and encounters, the Fameck Arab Film Festival promises a cinematic journey like no other, one of discovery, reflection and emotion, carried by the voices and visions shaping contemporary Arab cinema.