Tina Gharavi’s intimate drama about reconciliation, identity, and the pull of home, Shadows Of Beirut, is coming to UK cinemas. Watch the trailer here.
Tina Gharavi’s Shadows of Beirut hits UK cinemas on 25th September 2026. The first trailer and poster are now available.
Inspired by writer and lead Tala Calil’s own experiences, the film explores themes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), trauma, reconciliation and the enduring pull of family and place. The collaboration between Calil and director Tina Gharavi (Virginia Woolf’s Night & Day) shaped a deeply personal story. It examines the complexity of human relationships. Also, it considers the possibility of healing.
THE PREMISE
After 25 years away, a young woman returns to Beirut to visit her dying father, a man she has not seen since childhood. Forced to confront a past she has spent decades avoiding, she finds herself navigating a complicated landscape of grief, resentment, and unanswered questions.
As she moves through the city she once called home, Beirut becomes both a source of comfort and a challenge. Encounters with old acquaintances and new connections gradually draw her back into a world she believed she had left behind. At the same time, she struggles with the emotional burdens and anxieties that have shaped her life. As a result, her journey home is as much an internal one as a physical return.
Through the people she meets and the memories that resurface, she begins to piece together a deeper understanding of her family, her history, and herself. Set against the vibrant and resilient backdrop of Beirut, Shadows of Beirut is an intimate and moving drama. It tells a story about reconciliation, identity, and the enduring pull of home.
Starring Calil, Assaad Bouab (Bad Sisters) and Flavia Bechara (Elektra), Shadows of Beirut reflects not only one woman’s personal journey but also the enduring spirit of a city that continues to redefine itself in the face of adversity. The film will be distributed by BUFF Studios.
TINA GHARAVI STATEMENT
“We made this incredible film during lockdown and ducked and dived to get it made in Beirut and Bulgaria during a very challenging time. As the world was thinking about separation and what it means to stay connected, this film explored what it means to truly know a person or a place.
Tala Calil’s story was so moving and heartfelt: full of love, contradiction and complexity. I was glad to be the story’s midwife, but I knew that only Tala could play this role. What ensued is probably a film in itself — the story of the film, and the story behind the story.
I am so glad the film is finally having a release because, now more than ever, it is important for us to think about Beirut and keep our eyes on what is happening in the region.
Tala’s story is ultimately one of return, reconciliation and the understanding that nothing — and no one — is ever one-dimensional.”
Director, Tina Gharavi
TALA CALIL STATEMENT
“In film school, we’re often told to write what we know. With Shadows of Beirut, I found myself writing what I didn’t know.
The film is inspired by my own story. I was raised to always look ahead and never behind, so I spent much of my life avoiding difficult truths about my past, my family and where I came from. As my struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) intensified in my twenties, I found myself unable to keep outrunning them. Writing became a way of exploring the places I was too afraid to go.
At its core, Shadows of Beirut began with a simple act of imagination: what would happen if I gave my character the courage to do something I never managed to do myself?
And so what began as a screenplay became a deeply cathartic journey. Through the process of writing, producing and performing the role of Lana, I was forced to confront ideas about identity, family, forgiveness and what it means to return home.
At its heart, Shadows of Beirut is a story about seeing people in all their complexity. It asks whether healing comes from understanding others, or from finding compassion for ourselves. Making this film changed me, and I hope audiences find something of their own journey reflected in it.”
Writer/Producer, Tala Calil
Shadows of Beirut will be in UK Cinemas from 25th September.
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