Lebanese film festival organizers assault a viewer who criticized poor organization
Last Saturday, an attendee at the Lebanese Independent Film Festival was attacked by a number of organizers, after she protested on social media platforms about “poor organization.”
On Saturday evening, Farah Darwish appeared in a video on Instagram, in which she said that she had posted via the “Story” feature a short clip showing the state of chaos in the hall during one of the festival’s shows. She was surprised after the show ended when one of the organizations asked her to accompany her outside, where she was attacked. verbally abused by members of the festival’s staff, who took her mobile phone, before she was attacked and beaten by them.
This incident sparked widespread controversy in Lebanon, and many activists and users of social media platforms criticized the film festival management’s resort to “violence” in response to normal criticism that organizers may be exposed to at any festival or celebration.
The festival administration ignored commenting on the incident and the criticism that followed, before festival director Gautier Raad appeared after the closing ceremony, on Sunday evening, in a video with broadcaster Daisy Gideon, via Instagram, to comment on what happened.
Although the video was described as an “interview to discuss the unfortunate incident” that occurred on Saturday evening, it was in fact more like a long “monologue” by the presenter praising the festival and its organizers, stressing its “extreme importance” to filmmakers and local audiences alike. As for Raad, he did not address the details of what happened with Darwish, only emphasizing that “the festival seeks to be a safe space for everyone.”
The sixth edition of the Lebanese Independent Film Festival was held in Beirut between September 21 and 24.
