The summer of 2006 should have signalled Beirut’s return to its former glory after years of civil war reconstruction and the struggle for political stability. Instead, the city was blockaded, its newest art-house cinema was filled with refugees, and the country’s most famous festivals in Baalbek, Beiteddine and Byblos were scrapped.

One of the highlights of the city’s summer events was to be the Ayam Beirut Film Festival. It was programmed, organised and promoted in early 2006 as one of the Middle East's premier cultural events, but following the events of July 12th, it was assumed that the festival - like so many others - would be cancelled.

But Eliane Raheb and Hania Mroue - festival directors - had a better idea. They went ahead with the festival to send a clear message that the artists and filmmakers involved were resilient and eager to rebuild their country as soon as possible.

A Midsummer Night’s War follows Eliane and  Hania, along with numerous artists involved with Ayam Beirut, asking their reasons for holding the festival and examining how it represents their very struggle to survive.

But the story of Beirut’s reconstruction is not one-sided. While some are determined to carry on, others are losing hope. Lokman Slim, documentary filmmaker and co-director of cultural centre Umam Productions, wonders if he can ever again return to cultural work as he digs through his archive, much of it destroyed by Israeli bombing. For him, following the country’s most recent war, Lebanon must finally accept its own mortality.

Through the voices of two very different groups, A Midsummer Night’s War examines how, along with the physical reconstruction, Beirut has the equally daunting task of rebuilding its cultural identity.

Part post-war reportage, and part document of a surreal artistic experiment, A Midsummer Night’s War asks how culture can survive a war, and if - in the fragile ceasefire - Beirut is ready to go back to the movies.

A 10-minute version of A Midsummer Night's War will be broadcast on Al-Jazeera International's flagship Witness programme. Visit again soon for more details.