Beirut: The Karama - Beirut Human Rights Film Festival (KBHRFF) launches its eighth edition on June 27, 2025, at 7 PM at the Sunflower Theater in Tayyouneh, Beirut, under the theme 'Remember.' Organized by the NGO 'Art Factory 961,' the event is held under the auspices of the Lebanese Ministry of Culture and in collaboration with several international and local partners, including the United Nations Information Centre in Beirut (UNIC Beirut), the United Nations Development Programme in Lebanon (UNDP), UN Women in Lebanon, Fighters for Peace NGO, and the Embassies of Canada, Czech Republic, and Germany in Lebanon.
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, the 8th edition of the festival focuses on memory and human rights, especially in the context of wars, occupations, and displacements affecting the region. The festival aims to highlight the legal, social, and humanitarian challenges faced by vulnerable groups such as refugees, migrants, political dissidents, women, religious and ethnic minorities, local and foreign workers, and individuals with disabilities.
Running from June 27-30, the festival showcases 14 films and documentaries from various countries, subtitled in both English and Arabic, that document injustices and foster societal discussions on addressing historical and present-day human rights violations. In addition to film screenings, the festival features discussions with directors, activists, and experts, a side talk on the gendered memory of war, and a panel discussion on how memory and diverse narratives contribute to acknowledging Lebanon's past.
The festival has been a pioneering platform in Lebanon since its inception, allowing the public to engage with civil society activists, filmmakers, producers, and artists. KBHRFF promotes human rights by tackling issues such as child labor, bullying, racism, hate speech, discrimination, and injustice. Over the past nine years, it has provided an essential space for filmmakers to share their works advocating for human rights.
Previous editions have addressed various themes, from holding onto the basics of the Human Rights Charter to promoting gender equality and freedom of expression. Each edition has contributed to an ongoing dialogue on reconciliation, social and political change, and the rights of refugees and minorities in Lebanon and the Arab world.