Zaman Al-Jamil Festival Rekindles Golden-Era Glamour in Lebanon

Nariman Alloush

Casino du Liban, Lebanon – The 8th edition of the “Zaman Al-Jamil” (Beautiful Time) Festival lit up the cultural scene once again, stirring nostalgia for the golden eras of Arab media and entertainment.

Held at the iconic Casino du Liban, the annual event paid homage to legendary figures from the arts and media, honoring their timeless contributions.

Upon arrival, guests were transported into the past through a life-sized replica of the 1970s Rivoli Cinema, where red carpet interviews were conducted by media personalities Nisrine Zawahra and Georges Sweidy.

The festival opened with a heartfelt speech by its founder, Dr. Harout (Hrach) Saghbazzarian, who described the evening as a celebration of rare and precious loyalty—a value he believes is fading in today’s world.

Throughout the night, 25 iconic figures from the entertainment and media industries were honored. Among the first to be recognized were actors Gabriel Yammine and Giselle Nasr, the latter emotionally asking the audience to pray for Lebanon in her acceptance remarks.

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The festival’s committee also chose to honor Egyptian actress Nadia El Gendy and producer Mohamed Mokhtar for their 1980s film Al-Batiniya, a bold cinematic work that shed light on drug trade issues in Egypt’s El-Batiniya district. El Gendy, known as “the star of the masses,” expressed her deep love for Lebanon and the importance of the film’s message.

Tributes continued with a heartfelt salute to the late actress Samiha Ayoub, followed by the honoring of veteran Lebanese actor Jihad Al-Atrash, a stalwart of Lebanese drama.

A particularly touching moment came when host Carmen Lebbos announced the tribute to the late Ragaa El-Gedawy. A video documented Dr. Saghbazzarian’s visit to her Cairo home, where he presented the “Lady of Elegance” trophy to her daughter.

Emotions soared as singer Aline Lahoud took to the stage to receive an award on behalf of her late mother, the legendary Salwa Al-Katrib. Lahoud performed her mother’s classics including Shoufi Khalef El-Bahr and Khodni Ma’ak, receiving a standing ovation.

One of the evening’s most memorable surprises was the recognition of renowned composer Farouk Salama, who performed his iconic piece Laylat Hob originally written for Umm Kulthum, from a chair onstage.

Another emotional video segment showed Dr. Saghbazzarian presenting an award to the daughter of late Egyptian actor Ahmed Rateb, celebrating him as a role model under the title “The Ideal Artist.”

Among the distinguished Egyptian actresses honored was Sherine, who gracefully accepted her award, reminiscing about working alongside icons such as Adel Imam.

Syrian actor Ayman Zidan, beloved in the Arab world, expressed his fondness for Beirut as he accepted his award, while actress Elsie Ferneini was introduced by media figure Matilda Farjallah and writer Ahmad Al-Achi.

In a special tribute to the golden era of television, the festival honored media veterans Maha Salma, Yolande Khoury, Liliane Andraos, the late Laila Rostom, and journalist Zahi Wehbe.

The evening featured musical performances by Ghassan Saliba and Raja Badr—both symbols of Lebanon’s golden musical age. Singer Hoda Rouhana, famous for her song Habibi Byhebb El-Tesh, made a rare appearance to perform her timeless hit.

Among other Arab artists honored were Egyptian actress Aida Riyad and Syrian actress Wafaa Moussalli. Lebanese actors Nicolas Daniel and Randa Hashem also received awards.

A highlight of the night was the recognition of veteran chansonnière and stage comedienne Layla Stephan, who gave the audience a taste of her classic humor with a brief sketch.

Directed by Roy Latif, the event was broadcast live on LBCI. The musical segment was led by Maestro Bassam Baddour, while choreography was designed by Joseph Salloum.

The festival, once again, succeeded in turning back time, honoring the artistry and elegance of a bygone era while uniting audiences in celebration of Arab cultural heritage.

30-06-2025

Nariman Alloush: TV and Radio Presenter, Writer, Publisher, journalist and CEO at Bright lens media, and Mahabahu Correspondent, Lebanon

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