CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
Initially established in 2006 on Hamra Street with just a screen, a projector, and 100 seats, the Metropolis Cinema Association (MC) became the sole defender and promoter for independent Lebanese and Arab cinema through diverse programming, industry training, outreach to young audiences, and the preservation of film heritage to increase access to alternative films. Its subsidiary, MC Distribution, was established in 2009 as an independent film distribution company in Lebanon. In 2008, as the audience and demand for independent cinema grew, the association moved to the Empire-Sofil cinema in Achrafieh — a two-screen venue that the association has been programming since then. A few months after the start of the 2019 uprising in Lebanon and before the global pandemic began in 2020, the Sofil cinema was closed down, and Metropolis lost its main venue. Despite the various challenges posed by the economic collapse, the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion, and COVID-19 restrictions, Metropolis resumed its public programs in 2021, decentralizing and expanding its activities to 11 locations nationwide.

TWELVE-MONTH HIGHLIGHT(S):
Reopening: In December 2024, Metropolis Cinema reopened in its new location in Mar Mikhael. The new purpose-built complex has two screening rooms with a total capacity of up to 300 viewers, a library that archives collected films and thousands of film publications, a large garden that includes an open-air cinema, and a cultural cafe that can be used to host festivals and other events. Designed by architect Sophie Khayat, the Metropolis Cinema’s entire structure is portable and can be moved as a whole if necessary.