Watermelon Pictures: WE NEVER LEFT, a film by Loulwa Khoury with Q&A

Please join us for a screening of WE NEVER LEFT followed by a Q&A with the film's director, Loulwa Khoury.

This event is produced in collaboration with Watermelon Pictures as part of the Fall of Freedom.

Loulwa Khoury is a New York based film editor, filmmaker, born and raised in Beirut.

WE NEVER LEFT

Saying goodbye to loved ones at the Beirut airport has become an unfortunate tradition in Lebanon, almost a curse. Lebanese emigrants, driven abroad by decades of turmoil, are more than double those still left in their homeland. After civil protests erupt in Lebanon on October 17th 2019, WE NEVER LEFT follows three young Lebanese expats as they take part in the Lebanese revolution from New York fighting for a better country, each protesting in their own way. As they go through their collective journey, they all individually confront both their relationship with their homeland and their own complicated identities. This is the story of the Lebanese people and revolutions both political and personal.

Watermelon Pictures

Our mission is to shift culture on a large scale by bringing Palestinian cinema, and other untold stories, to broad audiences in a way that entertains, inspires, and activates audiences. By mobilizing movements for social justice, we hope to expand the reach of our artists by distributing their works in theaters and beyond. Through our own development and production, we are changing the scope of what a Palestinian film can be and empowering artists to reclaim their own narrative. We aim to build a shared collective vision for liberatory cinema that celebrates diversity and challenges power. In the spirit of Palestinian hospitality, we welcome everyone to hear our stories — if you come to our table, we will feed you.

Fall of Freedom

Fall of Freedom is an urgent call to the arts community to unite in defiance of authoritarian forces sweeping the nation. Our Democracy is under attack. Threats to free expression are rising. Dissent is being criminalized. Institutions and media have been recast as mouthpieces of propaganda.

This Fall, we are activating a nationwide wave of creative resistance. Beginning November 21–22, 2025, galleries, museums, libraries, comedy clubs, theaters, and concert halls across the country will host exhibitions, performances, and public events that channel the urgency of this moment. Fall of Freedom is an open invitation to artists, creators, and communities to take part—and to celebrate the experiences, cultures, and identities that shape the fabric of our nation.

Art matters. Artists are a threat to American fascism.