Sam Lahoud

Sam Lahoud graduated from NDU in 1997 with a B.A. in Communication Arts MA, Radio, Television and Film, and in 2009, he earned an M.A. in Media Studies- Electronic Journalism and Public Relations from the same university. He also holds a M.A. in Scriptwriting from Université Saint Joseph (ISEAV). He is currently a senior lecturer in Media and Film at NDU. At NDU, he founded the Division of Audio Visual Arts (DAVA), served the chairperson of the Department of Media Studies, and in 2014 founded the Office of Communications.
 
In 2018, just a few days before the International Cannes Film Festival, he and his colleague, NDU alumnus Dr. Nicolas Khabbaz, were selected among the “100 most Important Names in the Arab Film Industry” by the Arab Cinema Center “Global 100 Industry People That Matter.” Both he and Dr. Khabbaz formed a partnership in 2007 and since then they have both worked tirelessly to serve and support the Lebanese film industry and back young emerging filmmakers. Together, they have scheduled and nominated Lebanese films for inclusion in international festivals, such as the Guanajuato International Film Festival, Mexico, Uppsala Film Festival, Sweden, Regensburg Film Festival, Germany, Rabat International Author Film Festival and Oujda Film Festival, Morocco, Silk Road International Film Festival, Dublin, among others. Jointly, they took the NDU International Film Festival (NDUIFF) to new heights, won the “Social and Economic Award” for youth empowerment in 2015, and joined the “Belt and Road Film Festivals Alliance” at Shanghai International Film Festival in 2018.
 
On his own, Sam founded the Beirut Film Society, an NGO that works closely with Lebanese and international filmmakers and film associations, which aims to empower the film industry in Lebanon and promote responsible filmmaking.  After founding and launching the NDUIFF, established in 2007, he also launched the Beirut International Women Film Festival, Lebanese Film Festival in Canada, and Beirut International Children and Family Film Festival.
 
He is also an active filmmaker - his filmography includes many titles in different genres and ranks, including three feature films. He has also served as a member of the National Film Committee at the Lebanese Ministry of Culture since 2014. In addition to his role as jury member in various local and international film festivals and competitions, he is founding member of the Emile Chahine Foundation for Cinema Culture and Film Festivals Cinergy; member of the Media Advisory Board of “Women Empowerment for Leadership” by Maharat Foundation; member of the Academic Advisory Board of “Mentor Arabia;” board member at the Silk Road Film Festival, Dublin, Ireland; and Middle East representative at the Asian World Film Festival, Los Angeles, USA.
 
He was recently invited as a speaker at the “Lebanese Diaspora Energy Conference” held in Las Vegas, USA, and at the “Women in Audiovisual Southmed Conference.”