Preserving Lebanon’s Cinema History, One Poster at a Time
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r/Lebanon shares a story about preserving Lebanon’s cinema history through an archive of more than 20,000 movie posters in Beirut. The collection documents Lebanese and regional film culture, helping safeguard cinematic heritage and memories in a country without a national film archive.
The man saving Lebanon's cinema history, a poster at a time. In a country without film archives, 1 man is preserving Lebanon's film industry history. With thousands of movie posters Abboudi Bou Jaoude is saving cinematic heritage in an archive that's em...
CULTURE LEBANON
The man saving Lebanon's cinema history, a poster at a time
https://www.dw.com/en/the-man-saving-lebanons-cinema-history-a-poster-at-a-time/a-75312263
Diana Hodali
12/27/2025December 27, 2025
In a country without film archives, one man is preserving Lebanon's film industry history. With thousands of movie posters, Abboudi Bou Jaoude is saving cinematic heritage in an archive that's emotional for many.
Abboudi Abou Jaoude showing his collection of posters Abboudi Abou Jaoude says he knows each and every one of his postersImage: D. Hodali/DW
At the end of a little side street in the Beirut neighborhood of Ras Beirut, a faded poster points the way. If you follow the sign, head up a steep path to the left and through a heavy door, you'll find yourself between tall bookshelves. Novels, political analyses, out-of-print editions about the culture and history of the region.
A few steps further, around the corner you'll enter a second room. And here the atmosphere changes, it's more dense and colourful. It's here where poster heaven begins. Fascinating colors, so many faces, and typographies from over a century of trends in print.
There, at the back of the store, sits Abboudi Bou Jaoude, friendly, unassuming, always ready to tell a story. Behind him, Lebanese and Egyptian film posters from the 1960s and 70s, alongside posters from Iraq, Tunisia and Morocco. In between, there are magnets, postcards and coasters. An archive, but one that is alive and ready to evoke memories.
The entrance to Abboudi Abou Jaoude's shop is hidden in a small side street in Beirut.Image: D. Hodali/DW
"This shop is an archive for Lebanon, but also for the entire region," Bou Jaoude says. With more than 20,000 posters, his collection is considered one of the largest of its kind in the region. Many of the posters now hang in private homes — and even in the nearby Cafe Kalei, where film enthusiasts sip espresso while gazing at the faces of iconic Lebanese singers Fairuz or a young Sabah.
A life in cinema
"I was alre...
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