Here’s everything you need to know about the Lebanese Film Festival 2025

For the past thirteen years, the Lebanese Film Festival (LFF) has brought powerful stories to Australian screens, celebrating the country’s people, culture and traditions while providing a vibrant platform for filmmakers and storytellers to shine.

This year, the festival presents a diverse and dynamic film program, featuring everything from compelling documentaries and thought-provoking short films to colourful animations and comedies.

Here’s everything you need to know about LFF 2025, including participating venues, the most anticipated films and how to grab your tickets.

What is the Lebanese Film Festival?

The LFF is a non-profit, volunteer-run organisation based in Bankstown. The festival debuted in 2012 and has been running annually ever since, growing into a national arts and cultural event.

Pledging to showcase the best of Lebanese cinema to audiences, the LFF also aims to foster connections and encourage Lebanese participation in film and creative arts. To date, the festival has screened over 300 films from all around the world, with its tenth anniversary attracting over 17,000 patrons nationwide.

This year, the festival will show 38 films across Western Sydney. Australian actor and filmmaker Bryan Brown is the Patron of this year’s festival, known for incredible films including Australia (2008), Gods of Egypt (2016) and Cocktail (1988). He stated,

“This festival is a testament to Lebanon’s rich storytelling tradition, presenting films that capture the trauma, resilience, passion and artistry of its people. From thought-provoking dramas to heartwarming comedies and insightful documentaries, the program offers a unique and eye-opening insight into the Lebanese experience.”

READ MORE: Sydney Fringe Festival 2025: Full Program Revealed

Top picks from the program

Film Programmers Edward Hanna and Jessica Khoury, alongside International Consultant Elias Doummar, have carefully scouted and selected some of the best Lebanese cinema from all over the globe. To make the films accessible to Aussie audiences, all non-English films will feature English subtitles.

1. One Last Time

Opening night will feature One Last Time, a short film by award-winning director and third-generation member of the legendary Rahbani family. The Rahbani family has heavily influenced Lebanon’s rich cultural history in music, theatre and film. Karim Rahbani is no different, having earned over 30 awards for his internationally acclaimed work.

One Last Time will screen on opening night alongside two of Rahbani’s acclaimed short films, Cargo and With Thy Spirit. While all three will be showcased, One Last Time makes its Australian premiere on the night. The short film follows Toufic, a solitary man in his 80s who rekindles his passion for life after meeting a younger, attractive neighbour. Classified as a comedy, drama and short, the film is a tender and humorous reflection on connection and the human spirit.

Where: The Bryan Brown Theatre, Bankstown.
When: Thursday, August 28. Opening night festivities begin at 6:15pm, with theatre doors opening at 8pm.
Price: From $90 for opening night.

2. Wine and War

Wine and War is a documentary by directors Mark Johnston and Mark Ryan that explores the history of winemaking in Lebanon and the resilience of the Lebanese entrepreneurial spirit, seen through the lens of war and instability. With testimonies from those who fought to make wine in the 1975-1990 civil war, the 2006 summer war and those who continue to produce during regional instability, this documentary highlights the incredible resilience of Lebanese producers.

Where: Hoyts, Bankstown.
When: Saturday, August 30 at 6pm.
Price: From $18.75.

3. The Prophet

Inspired by Lebanese philosopher Kahlil Gibran’s iconic book, this animated 2014 film follows the journey of exiled artist and poet Mustafa as he returns home with his housekeeper and her daughter. Along the way, they must evade the authorities, who fear that Mustafa’s powerful words could ignite a revolution.

Featuring a star-studded Hollywood voice cast, including Liam Neeson, Salma Hayek (who also produced the film), and John Krasinski, The Prophet is returning to LFF this year thanks to popular demand.

Where: Hoyts, Bankstown.
When: Saturday, August 30 at 2pm.
Price: From $18.75.

4. The Correspondent

The Correspondent is a true story about Australian foreign correspondent and journalist Peter Greste, who was arrested in Cairo in 2013 while reporting for Al Jazeera. Despite his innocence, he is imprisoned for seven years in an Egyptian prison, where his wits and some unlikely allies are the only things keeping him alive. Exploring themes of press freedom and resilience, the biographical film was released by Maslow Entertainment in Australia on April 17, 2025.

Where: Hoyts, Bankstown.
When: Thursday, September 4 at 7pm.
Price: From $18.75.

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Participating venues

The film festival will screen productions at the following venues in Bankstown:

• Hoyts Bankstown
• Hoyts Broadway
• Western Sydney University, Bankstown City Campus
• The Theatre, Bankstown Sports
• Bankstown Arts Centre
• Bryan Brown Theatre

How to get tickets

The full list of films is available here, and you can purchase tickets by following the link on each film overview. You can purchase tickets for the Opening Night here.

LFF are spotlighting two poignant short films, called Bahiya And Mahmoud and Picture, which you can watch for free on YouTube.

All Access Pass, Bankstown

Valued at $350, this pass costs $250 and includes all sessions in the Sydney program in Bankstown. It does not include the session at Hoyts Broadway.

All Access Pass, Sydney

Also valued at $350, this pass costs $250 and includes all sessions in the Sydney program, including Broadway. It does not include tickets to see The Correspondent at Hoyts Bankstown, as this is the same time as the Broadway screening.

Documentary Pass

Valued at $75 but costing $50, this pass can be used for all documentary sessions, and includes three documentary sessions at Bankstown Hoyts, including ‘Maroun Returns to Beirut’, ‘Wine and War’ and ‘The Third Rahbani’.

All Bankstown Pass

This pass includes all Hoyts Bankstown and Bankstown Sports Sessions except Closing Night and is valued at $241, but costs $180.

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Lebanese Film Festival 2025

Where: Various venues in Bankstown.
When: Thursday, August 26, until Saturday, September 13.
Price: Tickets start from $18.75, but some free short films are spotlighted and available to watch online.