Lebanese Film Festival Australia (LFF) launched its 13th edition on Thursday 28 August at the Bryan Brown Theatre, Bankstown, with a red-carpet tribute to acclaimed Lebanese filmmaker Karim Rahbani—a fitting curtain-raiser that blended cinematic excellence with a warm Western Sydney welcome. Patron Bryan Brown AM was in the room and offered a few heartfelt words—especially meaningful in the theatre that bears his name and the festival of which he is patron—before the evening’s screenings commenced.
The audience included a strong showing of civic and community leaders: Clr Bilal El-Hayek, Mayor of the City of Canterbury Bankstown, who shared a touching video message before departing due to a family bereavement; The Hon. Jihad Dib MP, NSW Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government, Emergency Services and Youth Justice (Member for Bankstown); The Hon Mark Coure MP, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism; Jobs, Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology; and South-Western Sydney (Member for Oatley); and The Hon Julia Finn MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and for the Arts (Member for Granville). Also in attendance were Councillors Rachelle Harika, Saud Abu-Samen and George Zakhia from Canterbury-Bankstown Council, alongside His Excellency Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, Maronite Bishop of Australia—each presence underscoring the festival’s cultural significance across faith, politics and community.
Before the lights dimmed, guests were welcomed by a fragrant showcase of Lebanese hospitality in the foyer—platters of pillowy pita and kaak, jewel-bright bowls of tabbouleh, and warm bites of crispy cheese and meat sambousek and golden falafel fresh from the fryer. There were oregano-kissed mini croussants alongside stuffed vine leaves, all balanced with the care, love and precision of Tayta’s Food Co. To finish, trays of delicate ma’amoul courtesy of Smeed offered a sweet, flaky finale as well as beautiful ice cream cones—an irresistible spread that set a celebratory tone and reminded everyone that, in Lebanese culture, food is a story of family, generosity, and joy.
A graceful salute to Karim Rahbani
This year’s focus on Karim Rahbani framed the night as a celebration of a third-generation member of the storied Rahbani family and a filmmaker with a growing international footprint. LFF’s profile of Rahbani highlighted his award-winning shorts and cross-genre body of work, setting the stage for an intimate, audience-first retrospective.
Rahbani addressed the crowd via video, mirroring the festival’s theme: cinema as both mirror and bridge—reflecting lived experience while bringing communities together. That spirit flowed into the foyer, where first-time attendees mingled with LFF regulars over post-screening conversations.
Three films, one distinct voice
Cargo (2017)
Set between the Beqaa Valley and Beirut, this poignant short follows young Abed and his ailing grandfather—refugees of the Syrian war—whose struggle lays bare the brutal economics of survival. LFF’s program notes, alongside industry listings, underline the film’s crisp storytelling and emotional force.
With Thy Spirit (2014)
An intimate moral drama: after a tragic accident, a monastery priest must summon the courage to face consequences. The film’s festival track record—Cannes Short Film Corner selection and multiple jury prizes—speaks to Rahbani’s assured, contemplative style.
One Last Time (2024/25)
Toufic, an octogenarian widower, has his routine jolted by a mistaken-door encounter that unexpectedly reawakens his appetite for life. Lightly comic yet deeply humane, Rahbani’s latest short plays as a tender meditation on connection in the twilight years—and has featured on the international circuit, including the Red Sea International Film Festival.
Craft, care and community
None of this happens without a formidable engine room. Credit to Co-Directors Jessica Zeait and Camille Lattouf, whose curation continues to evolve LFF as the world’s largest festival of its kind; Priscilla Fayad (Operations & Finance) and Julia Lattouf (Public Affairs & Marketing); and the host of tireless volunteers whose professionalism and heart keep the wheels turning. Their precision—across programming, guest experience and production—was on full display.
If opening night is any guide, LFF 2025 promises a season of films that move, challenge and connect us—and a community that shows up, together, for the stories that matter.
