BEIRUT, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon's Beirut International Film Festival (BIFF) announced Wednesday postponement for a few months due to the difficult economic situation prevailing in the country, local media reported.

The festival's administration said the postponement is due to "the difficult economic situation and the complicated regional political situation."

The administration said it hopes to set a new date for launching its activities at the beginning of 2019.

"We have a wide new selection of films in our portfolio and the most prominent event is our partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which organizes the Oscars Awards," said the organizer.

The first edition of the BIFF was held in October 1997.

The festival screens Lebanese feature film along with international and Arab short films, documentaries, video clips and advertisements.