The management of the Carthage Film Festival has announced it will honor the late Lebanese composer Ziad Rahbani during the festival’s 36th edition, scheduled to take place from December 13 to 20, 2025.

This tribute comes just days after Rahbani’s passing due to complications from liver fibrosis — a profound loss for Arab art that deeply affected his admirers across the region and left a void in the cultural and artistic spheres. Rahbani was a unique creative force whose influence transcended generations.

A Tribute Beyond the Film Reel

In its official statement, the festival’s organizers remarked that “Ziad Rahbani’s presence won’t be through an American feature film,” referencing one of his most iconic satirical lines, but rather through the lasting imprint he left on Arab artistic memory with his profound music, bold performances, and sharp critical voice.

The tribute program will include screenings of films in which Rahbani appeared—whether as an actor or a music composer—alongside panel discussions and events highlighting the many facets of his rich and multidimensional career across theater, cinema, music, and journalism.

A Symbol of Cinematic Renewal

The festival also acknowledged Rahbani’s contribution to a transformative moment in Arab cinema. His name was linked with a new wave of artistic renewal, collaborating with leading directors such as Maroun Bagdadi, Randa Chahal, Farouk Beloufa, and Qasim Hawal. His music provided an emotional and spiritual backdrop to many cinematic scenes, while his acting brought human depth to the characters he portrayed.

An Artist Beyond Categorization

The son of musical legends Fairouz and the late Assi Rahbani, Ziad was far more than just an artist—he was a cultural phenomenon. His work combined rebellion and sincerity, critique and satire, and art with political consciousness. While his name is often associated with theater and music, his contributions to Arab cinema reflected a fearless aesthetic vision and a rare, uncompromising taste.

Through this tribute, the Carthage Film Festival is not only commemorating a departed artist but celebrating a musical and cultural intellect that helped shape a spirit of creative freedom—one that will long remain alive in collective memory.