What does it mean to capture a place not just in pictures, but in its soul?
This question lies at the heart of Hima Enfé, a powerful new 55-minute documentary directed by anthropologist and filmmaker Pascale Feghali, in collaboration with political science researcher and photographer Gabriel Ferneini. Premiering on May 28 at the Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut (AUB), the film is more than a cultural artifact — it is a declaration of identity, heritage, and community-led conservation.
Enfé: The “Little Greece” of Lebanon
Nestled on the northern coast of Lebanon, Enfé is a coastal town steeped in history and brimming with natural beauty. Known for its ancient archaeological ruins, iconic rock-carved salt basins, sea caves, and white-and-blue chalets that have earned it the nickname “Little Greece,” Enfé is more than a tourist destination — it is a living tapestry of past and present.
But Enfé’s true story lies beneath the surface. And this is what Hima Enfé sets out to reveal.
The Hima Model Comes to Life
At the core of the film is the Hima approach, revived and promoted by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Lebanon (SPNL). Rooted in a centuries-old tradition of communal resource management, the Hima model empowers local communities to steward their lands and waters in harmony with nature. In Enfé, this model has found a dynamic expression.
The documentary explores how the people of Enfé — from fisherfolk and salt farmers to youth and artists — have embraced the Hima model to reclaim their natural and cultural heritage. Over the course of three months, Feghali and Ferneini immersed themselves in the rhythms of the town, capturing intimate scenes of daily life, oral histories, ecological practices, and community resilience.
From Archive to Activism
Produced under the Digital Cultural Heritage Incubator, an initiative by AUB’s Archaeological Museum and Faculty of Engineering, Hima Enfé bridges anthropology, environmental science, and citizen storytelling. It is both a record of what Enfé has been and a roadmap for what it can become.
In a time of economic and ecological uncertainty, Hima Enfé offers hope — and a call to action. It shows how protecting biodiversity is inseparable from honoring local culture, and how conservation can only succeed when people are placed at the center.
A Model for the Mediterranean
For SPNL, Enfé is not an isolated success story. It is part of a growing network of 34 Hima sites across Lebanon, and a model for the wider Mediterranean region. As Lebanon grapples with environmental degradation and urban sprawl, the Hima movement offers a grassroots alternative — rooted in knowledge, tradition, and collective responsibility.
Watch, Reflect, Engage
As Hima Enfé makes its public debut, SPNL invites viewers to reflect on the deeper connections between land, identity, and community. Through storytelling, this documentary reminds us that every landscape holds a story — and that in protecting nature, we also preserve our sense of belonging.
Hima Enfé will be screened at AUB Museum Auditorium on Wednesday, May 28 at 5:30 PM.
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