The evening began with a cinematic retrospective charting the studio’s journey from early Lebanese-Egyptian collaborations to its current pan-Arab leadership and recent expansion into Saudi Arabia.
Cedars Art Production (Sabbah Brothers) marked its 71st anniversary this week with a star-studded celebration at Beirut’s Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum. Held under the patronage of Lebanon’s Minister of Information, Paul Morcos, and Egypt’s Ambassador to Lebanon, Alaa Moussa, the event paid tribute to the company’s seven-decade legacy as one of the Arab world’s major entertainment studios.
The evening coincided with the Divas: From Umm Kulthum to Dalida exhibition, which Cedars Art Production proudly sponsored, highlighting its long-standing role in shaping modern Arabic drama. Founded in 1954 by Ali-Hussein Sabbah, the studio has been instrumental in the evolution of Arab television and cinema, from early Lebanese-Egyptian collaborations to its current leadership in Pan-Arab, Egyptian and Moroccan productions, as well as its recent expansion into Saudi Arabia’s fast-growing entertainment market.
Guests were treated to a cinematic retrospective that traced the company’s artistic journey through archival footage and clips from series, including Al-Shahroura — chronicling the life of Lebanese diva Sabah — Al Hayba, Molouk Al Gad’ana, Bitlou’ Al Rouh, Five-Thirty, Touba, Taj and Salamat Abou Lbanat. These titles have not only shaped the identity of Arabic television but also helped propel it to international audiences.
The event brought together a lineup of regional stars, among them Ahmed El Sakka, Amr Saad, Karim Fahmy, Maged El Masry, Elham Shaheen, Taim Hassan, Karess Bashar, Kosai Khauli, Nour Ali, Daniella Rahme, Rafic Ali Ahmad and Walid Toufic, alongside producers, directors and industry leaders from across the Arab world.
In his remarks, producer Sadek Sabbah reflected on the company’s multigenerational journey and said: “Our story is proof that dreams don’t die and success isn’t inherited — it’s built day by day with passion and persistence. Today, my brother Ali and I represent the third generation, while Lama, Anwar and Sevine are the fourth. Together, we stand on the shoulders of giants, continuing the company’s mission to create groundbreaking content for the Arab world.”
With over seven decades of continuous production, Cedars Art Production (Sabbah Brothers) stands as one of the Middle East’s most influential independent studios. Its series and co-productions have reached audiences in more than 30 countries, featuring on major global and regional streaming platforms such as Netflix, Shahid (MBC), Amazon Prime Video, ViuClip, OSN and TOD.
