About Beirut Film Society

Over 140 years ago, the first known Lebanese immigrant, Ibrahim Abou Nader, set foot in Montreal. He arrived with nothing but his hands, his faith, and the stories of a homeland. He worked as a peddler, walking miles through snow-covered streets, learning a new language, adjusting his accent, adapting his dreams.

What he truly carried was Lebanon — not just in objects, but in the way he adapted, survived, and built a life. That story of reinvention and cultural resilience lives on today — not only in homes and names, but now in cinema.

Lebanon Cinema Days  continues his journey — turning that same spirit of survival into celebration, and that same adaptability into connection. Where once our ancestors sold goods to belong, today we screen films to be understood.

Over nine years ago, Beirut Film Society brought Lebanese cinema to Canada through a pioneering platform. After years of cultural contribution and community-building, and in light of growing concerns around transparency and artistic integrity, Beirut Film Society made the clear and conscious decision to move forward independently — grounded in purpose and ethical values.

Lebanon Cinema Days in Canada is not a beginning nor an end. It is a renewal — a movement where films carry diplomacy, stories breathe resilience, and Beirut Film Society stands firm as the cultural compass that connects nations through cinema.