An intimate event honouring Lebanon’s rich and multifaceted culture including films, panel discussions, poetry readings, and live music will be held to spark conversation on Thursday 24th October, hosted by Reference Point @ 180 Studios
This curated event seeks to challenge the mainstream media’s narrative on Lebanon, offering an immersive experience in solidarity with Middle Eastern voices often left unheard.
Put together by a multinational collective of friends with roots in Lebanon and those with Jewish heritage, Shim El Yasmine transcends religion to create a unique opportunity to witness raw, unfiltered perspectives from Lebanon and challenge the mainstream narrative.
All proceeds from the event will be donated to Beit el Baraka, a non-profit that ensures dignity to Lebanese families that have been deprived of their basic needs and rights, working directly with local authorities to provide food, shelter, and medical support for those in need.
If you can’t attend a donation can still be made by clicking ‘Get Tickets’ and following the ‘Donate’ link.
There will also be a charity auction on the night, featuring signed Rolling Stones memorabilia as well as exclusive prints by local photographers and artists.
Event Highlights:
Film Screenings: Four powerful short films exploring war’s impact on Lebanon, youth solidarity after the Beirut blast, and the media’s distorted “Western gaze.”
Panel Discussion: A hard-hitting conversation on media censorship and targeting of intellectuals, moderated by Hazzem Jamjoum of NYU.
Poetry & Music: Emotional readings, including poems by Rashad Abu Sakheela, killed in Gaza last week, and works by Lebanese authors Tania Khalil and Miguel Issa, along with live oud performances.
DJ Set by Cheb Mimo: A fusion of North African and Arab sounds before and after the event.
An unforgettable evening that challenges the mainstream narrative, honours Lebanese culture, and amplifies the voices of those whose stories deserve to be told.
Details: Thursday 24th October 7PM – 11PM Reference Point – 180 Studios – 2 Arundel St, Temple, London WC2R 3DA Tickets and Donations HERE
*Full rundown of events in detail below*
EVENTS:
Part 1: Film Screenings & Panel Discussion 7:00 PM – DJ Set by Cheb Mimo The evening will kick off with a DJ set by Cheb Mimo, a London-based DJ with roots in Algeria and Tunisia, who will create a melodic ambiance with a selection of southern and continental sounds. His set will evoke North African and Arab musical traditions, setting the tone for an evening of cultural reflection.
7:30 PM – Short Film Screening & Panel + Q&A The event will showcase three thought-provoking short films, each tackling stereotypes, resilience, and the impact of war on Lebanon and its people:
“L’étranger En Moi” (10 mins) – A critical reflection on how foreign perspectives shape perceptions of Lebanon, challenging stereotypes and misconceptions. [Watch trailer here]
Remembering and Forgetting” (6 mins) – A conversation with a Lebanese architect exploring the controversial subject of “war tourism” and the fetishization of memorializing massacres. [Watch here]
“Beirut Arise” (7 mins) – A moving portrayal of the solidarity and emotional upheaval felt by Lebanon’s youth in the aftermath of the Beirut Blast of August 2020, the largest non-nuclear explosion since WWII. [Watch here]
8:00 PM – Panel Discussion & Q&A Hosted by Hazzem Jamjoum Following the screenings, moderator Hazzem Jamjoum will lead a conversation reflecting on the “Western gaze” toward the Middle East, examining how mainstream media shapes the narrative and targets intellectuals, including journalists and writers. The panel will address media censorship and the violence faced by those who dare to tell the truth.
Film 4: “Ecology and Poetry as Resistance“– A look at how environmental consciousness and artistic expression serve as forms of resistance in conflict zones, leading into the next part of the evening’s performances.
Part 2: Readings & Live Music
9:00 PM – Poetry Readings and Musical Performances The second part of the night will offer a deeply emotional segment with poetry readings and live music, including the traditional oud, as a means of reflecting on resilience, grief, and the unyielding spirit of those affected by war:
Ahmad Najjar will read a poignant poem by his cousin, Rashad Abu Sakheela, a young poet tragically killed in Gaza last week.
Tania Khalil, a Lebanese author, will read an excerpt from her novel, offering a raw glimpse into the Israeli bombardment of the southern Lebanese city of Sour (Tyre) happening in real time.
Ahmed Massoud, a novelist from Gaza, will read a powerful poem by the late Refaat Al Areer, who was killed with family members in an airstrike on December 8, 2023. [Read more here]
Performances by Miguel Issa, a Lebanese artist, and Maja Bayyoud, a Lebanese poet, will add depth to the evening with their artistic reflections on the region’s turmoil.
A volunteer will read a selected poem by May Ziyadeh, the Lebanese-Palestinian poet whose works have long spoken to the complexities of identity and resistance.
10:00 PM – Closing DJ Set by Cheb Mimo The evening will close with another mesmerizing DJ set by Cheb Mimo, blending musical genres and bridging cultures through sound.
