Beirut DC is a cultural association for the development of independent Arab cinema that was founded in 1999.Beirut DC's aims are: - To encourage and enhance a creative cinematic movement in the Arab World through varying modes of promotion, production, training and co-production meetings; - To support Arab independent filmmakers and producers by encouraging them to create films that question socially established norms and beliefs; - To urge change and the development of new personalized cinematic approaches; - To use art and cinema to communicate across the largest possible audience, ultimately transforming the art of film into a tool that reaches all communities and societies;- To normalize cinema by making it readily available for everyone to enjoy, as opposed to its current status as a luxury good.