Moondove

Followed by a film talk with director Karim Kassem

Moondove is a poignant meditation on the everyday life of a Lebanese village where water scarcity is creeping in, disrupting daily life and jeopardizing the harvest. In this intimate portrait, Karim Kassem melds imaginative storytelling with observational documentary, drawing on the personal narratives of local residents – many of whom play themselves – to reveal the tensions between tradition and the inexorable forces of change. Meanwhile, the villagers prepare an annual play titled Departures, which highlights their quiet endurance in the face of adversity. (AF)

Moondove premiered at Mostra De Valencia 2024, winning the jury prize and best cinematography, and later screened in the International Competition at the 45th Cairo International Film Festival.

Karim Kassem is an award-winning Lebanese director and cinematographer. In a four-year period, he has yielded Only The Winds (2020), Octopus (2021), Thiiird (2023) and now Moondove (2024). His fifth feature Before Now, Later (2025) is in development.