Firas Halimeh, a lebanese media figure sapotted hanging out the Lebanese flag to the stars of the El Gouna Film Festival .
The media and social media platforms were all over it. Lebanese stars who used to participate in this annual cinematic event also stopped at it, posting it on their social media accounts to thank Halimeh for his initiative. They considered him an ambassador for Lebanon, which is suffering and burdened by a bloody war taking place on its soil. Their non-participation in the festival was natural in light of the harsh circumstances their country is experiencing.
Firas flew to Cairo from Riyadh to cover the festival’s events for the “Aghani Aghani” channel, carrying the pain of a country groaning under the weight of a harsh war that made him feel confused.
He explains: “Feelings of sadness mixed inside me, especially since I was doing a mission that was mostly filled with joy. I began to wonder how I would receive the atmosphere of an event that the Arab world awaits from year to year. I realized that I was doing my job; but at the same time, I was looking for a way to make Lebanon present, even if symbolically. The idea of distributing the Lebanese flag to the stars as they walked the red carpet was born. My mission is to conduct interviews with them for the channel I work for.”
Firas felt that his presence at the festival might not be justified by some, and that many might criticize him for being present in a joyful artistic atmosphere while his country is suffering. However, out of his responsibility as a Lebanese media figure representing Lebanon, he decided to undertake this initiative.
Halimeh initially thought of designing a dress bearing the Lebanese flag and giving it to the festival guests. “But I found that it might be exaggerated, so I did not want to impose my feelings on others. When I thought of printing small Lebanese flags and distributing them, I found it a simple and expressive idea at the same time.”
More than once, Firas Halimeh could not control himself when he noticed the Egyptian artists’ interaction with his initiative. “I thought that the matter would pass without notice and that the meanings of the initiative would console me alone. But I was surprised by the amount of interaction and influence that everyone showed. They would take the flag from me with joy, sing Lebanon or kiss the flag, and sometimes they would hold it to their hearts and embrace it with love.”
A group of Egyptian stars, including Elham Shaheen, Lebleba, Tamer Hagras and Hany Ramzy, paid tribute to Lebanon. Other stars from Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, including Mais Hamdan, Nisreen Tafesh and Khairiya Abu Laban, expressed their beautiful feelings towards Lebanon through words and songs.
As for the Egyptian actor Mohamed Farag, he urged Firas to cry. Halima continues: “When I presented him with the flag, he held it tenderly and kissed it. I asked him to say a word to it, but he couldn’t control himself. He cried out of emotion, which made me cry with him. The scene was very touching, especially since it was spontaneous. Social media widely circulated it, expressing their thanks to Farag and his true feelings that came from his heart towards Lebanon.”
lebanese stars in Gouna
Lebanese stars have always had a remarkable presence in the past six editions of the El Gouna Film Festival. Their participation accounted for 40 percent of the rest of the attendees from Egypt and the Arab world. Like Nadine Nassib Njeim, Maguy Bou Ghosn, Cyrine Abdelnour, Maya Diab and others, everyone was waiting for their appearance. Firas Halimeh continues: “Even the Lebanese media was largely absent.”
Firas says that a person who is forced to leave his country while it is in a state of war is more anxious. This is what he felt throughout his stay outside Lebanon as he lives in Saudi Arabia. “Being away from the homeland in similar circumstances generates sadness, pain and anxiety in us. Many believe that Lebanese expatriates enjoy comfort and turn a blind eye to what is happening there to some extent. But this is absolutely not true. The further we are from our homelands, the more we feel connected to it, its people, its concerns and tragedies.”
A strong relationship unites Egyptian stars in Lebanon and its people. Firas Halimeh describes it as authentic and stemming from the love and true feelings they have for it. He adds to Asharq Al-Awsat: “When I asked them to address Lebanon, they would sing (I Love You, Lebanon) by Fairuz. They all memorized it by heart because it expresses their love for it. It became like an anthem or a national reference that they resort to in order to address the Lebanon they love. Even when the artist Hani Shaker was performing his concert at the Arab Music Festival, he performed this song and cried with emotion. And like the stars of Egypt, so are its people, they have feelings of love for Lebanon and its people. ”
Firas Halimeh knew that his mission was difficult. He was covering a happy event that filled the world with its activities and film screenings, and Lebanon was suffering. But he overcame his feelings because professional duty called him. “I told myself that life overcomes death, and just as Elissa performed her concert in Canada and delivered her message about Lebanon, so did Najwa Karam appear on the program (Arabs Got Talent) overcoming her sadness for Lebanon. And I, based on the scene of Lebanon that is always vibrant with life, accomplished my mission to the fullest.”
It is worth noting that the “El Gouna Film Festival” honors directors from Lebanon; They are Joanna Hajji Touma and Khalil Joreige. Their film “Maya’s Notebooks” is being screened at the festival. Two Lebanese documentaries are also being screened, including one by director Eliane Raheb. She is participating as a member of the jury for the documentary films category at the festival. Firas Halimeh concludes to Asharq Al-Awsat: “My media experience is long and includes many experiences. However, I consider (El Gouna Film Festival) in its seventh edition a milestone that taught me. I consider it a moment of pride that I am proud of towards my country, Lebanon.”
Published oct 27, 2024
