Karama Beirut Concludes Its 9th Edition Under the Theme: Remember
The 9th edition of the Karama Human Rights Film Festival – Beirut was held from 27 to 30 June 2025 at Masrah Al Madina – Saint George, under the theme “Remember,” marking the 50th anniversary of the Lebanese Civil War.
Over four days, the festival screened 14 films addressing human rights issues, accompanied by four post-screening discussions. Notably, 10 of the 14 films premiered in Lebanon, representing a wide range of countries including Lebanon, the United States, Jordan, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Palestine, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, and Egypt.
Memory and War: A Dialogue on the Past and Reconciliation
The closing day featured a main panel titled “Memory and War,” following the screening of the documentary A New Bus to Ain El-Remmaneh. The discussion brought together members of the Forum for Memory and the Future (FMF), former combatants, and experts in documentation and multi-narrative history. The session explored how memory, documentation, and plural narratives contribute to acknowledging Lebanon’s past and fostering dialogue and reconciliation.
More than 150 participants attended, with simultaneous Arabic–English interpretation.
Speakers included:
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Assaad Al-Shaftari – Fighters for Peace (FFP)
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Monika Borgmann – UMAM Documentation & Research
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Shaden Hani-Nouehid – Applied Research Partnerships
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Moderator: Maya El-Dib – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Gendered Memory and Women’s Role in Peacebuilding
The closing program also included an open dialogue session in cooperation with UN Women, focusing on gendered memory of war and the vital role of women in peacebuilding and national healing. The session followed the screening of The Visit, featuring testimonies by Wadad Halwani, Georgette Jabbara, and Takla Chamoun.
Approximately 150 participants attended, with simultaneous interpretation in Arabic and English.
Youth Engagement and Community Participation
The festival presented visual materials, oral testimonies, and archival content from the “Green Line Lebanon” project by Fighters for Peace, alongside newly developed memory tours in Mount Lebanon. These activities strengthened the link between memory documentation, community engagement, and youth empowerment. The initiative supported the participation of at-risk youth, and three students from the American University of Beirut (AUB) shared personal war testimonies.
Strong Public and Media Impact
Through its programming and discussions, Karama Beirut reaffirmed the importance of reconciliation with the past as a foundation for a more just and peaceful society, emphasizing that ignoring this step has contributed to Lebanon’s ongoing crises.
