“We have to keep hoping and dreaming”: Cyril Aris on A Sad and Beautiful World at Red Sea International Film Festival 2025

On the red carpet at the Red Sea Film Festival, director Cyril Aris presented A Sad and Beautiful World. The film follows Nino and Yasmina, two childhood friends in Beirut, cosmically bound since a tragic massacre, whose enduring bond rekindles into a love that challenges their cynical views on life amidst Lebanon’s turbulent history.

In his conversation with The Upcoming, Aris told us how the feature explores the profound question of bringing children into a world fraught with turmoil. He emphasised the personal drive behind his work, stating, “We have to keep hoping and dreaming,” highlighting filmmaking as a way of coping. Aris also shared the challenging experience of shooting during missile attacks and how creating a movie allows them to escape and maintain perfect control amidst chaos.

Laura Della Corte

A Sad and Beautiful World does not have a release date yet.