UK Film Festival in Lebanon

Beirut’s film scene is about to welcome a landmark cultural event. From November 13 to 19, Metropolis Cinema will host the first-ever UK Film Festival in Lebanon, titled “Intersections”, a collaboration between the British Council, the British Embassy in Beirut, and the Metropolis Cinema Association, supported by the UK Government’s GREAT Britain and Northern Ireland Campaign.

Bridging cinema and culture

Billed as both a celebration of cinematic excellence and a catalyst for creative collaboration, “Intersections” brings together filmmakers, sound designers, and industry experts from the UK and Lebanon to explore how technology, storytelling, and culture intersect on screen.

“The UK Film Festival in Lebanon is a celebration of creativity and collaboration,” said Mayssa Dawi, Country Director at the British Council Lebanon. “By bringing together UK and Lebanese talent, we’re strengthening partnerships and building the foundations for future innovation and prosperity across our creative economies.”

A diverse film lineup

The festival will feature 12 films that capture the range and vitality of UK cinema, from contemporary hits to classics:

Grand Theft Hamlet – Pinny Grylls & Sam Crane

Hot Milk – Rebecca Lenkiewicz

The Old Oak – Ken Loach

We Dare to Dream – Waad Al-Kateab

The Outrun – Nora Fingscheidt

Is There Anybody Out There? - Ella Glendining

The Salt Path – Marianne Elliott

Made in England: The Films of Powell and Pressburger – David Hinton

The Red Shoes – Michael Powell & Emeric Pressburger

The Third Man – Carol Reed

The Collector – William Wyler

Easy Virtue – Alfred Hitchcock (to be reimagined through a live cine-concert for the finale)

But Intersections goes beyond the screen. A professional programme will connect Lebanese creatives with leading UK professionals through workshops and talks on sound design, gaming technologies, and the future of filmmaking, featuring names like Johnny Burn (The Zone of Interest), Paul Davies (You Were Never Really Here), and Kode9’s Steve Goodman.

A cultural and professional milestone

“Intersections” represents more than a festival; it’s a cultural and professional milestone for Lebanon. By bringing together UK and Lebanese filmmakers, sound designers, and industry experts, it fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation. Beyond celebrating cinema, the event strengthens Lebanon’s position as a hub for international creative dialogue, opening doors for co-productions, education, and sustainable growth in the country’s creative economy.