The Alternative Kitchen is a Beirut Film Center (BFC) project that brings together food, film, and storytelling as tools for social change, with a clear commitment to animal rights, environmental justice, and social equity. Developed within BFC’s broader mission to use cinema and education to address urgent social and ethical issues, the project approaches food not only as nourishment, but as a cultural, political, and moral choice.
Rooted in Lebanese and wider Levantine culinary traditions, The Alternative Kitchen works to make vegan living accessible, affordable, and culturally grounded. Central to the project is the recognition of animals as sentient beings, and the rejection of systems that normalize their exploitation. By reclaiming plant-based dishes that have long existed in the region’s food heritage, the project reframes veganism not as a foreign trend or imported ideology, but as a local, practical, and resilient way of living that aligns with compassion, sustainability, and cultural continuity.
As a Beirut Film Center initiative, the project is shaped by BFC’s educational philosophy and community-based approach to storytelling. BFC provides the creative framework, technical infrastructure, and pedagogical environment that allow The Alternative Kitchen to function simultaneously as a media platform and a learning space. Emerging filmmakers, editors, sound engineers, and content creators are actively involved in every stage of the project, from research and production to post-production and distribution, gaining hands-on experience while contributing to work with tangible social impact.
Through documentaries, podcasts, instructional cooking content, and educational media, The Alternative Kitchen explores the ethical, economic, health, and environmental consequences of what we eat, with animal rights at the core of this inquiry. The project situates food choices within Lebanon’s current realities, including economic collapse, food insecurity, and environmental degradation, presenting plant-based living as a viable and compassionate response to interconnected human and non-human crises.
The Alternative Kitchen is funded by Vegan Grants, whose support enables the project to remain accessible, independent, and focused on grassroots impact rather than commercial appeal. This funding allows the project to prioritize education, storytelling, and community engagement, amplifying narratives that challenge dominant food systems and advocate for the rights of animals, people, and the environment alike.
Under the Beirut Film Center umbrella, The Alternative Kitchen also serves as a platform for public dialogue. Screenings, discussions, workshops, and digital content are designed to encourage critical reflection, question normalized practices of consumption, and imagine more ethical and sustainable futures. Rather than prescribing solutions, the project invites audiences to reconnect with cultural memory, empathy, and responsibility through the shared languages of food and storytelling.
Project Co-Directors
Samer Beyhum
Filmmaker, BFC Co-Director & Co-Founder, Lead Instructor
An award-winning Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker, director, sound engineer, editor, educator, and vegan chef whose work is deeply rooted in creating socially impactful content. As a co-founder and lead instructor of the Beirut Film Center (BFC), Samer has dedicated himself to empowering youth through film education, providing tools and opportunities for aspiring filmmakers to tell their stories and address pressing societal issues.
Samer’s commitment to advocating for human rights and social justice is evident through his initiatives. He played a pivotal role in establishing the Children’s Rights Festival, a platform amplifying the voices of marginalized children and raising awareness about their rights through the powerful medium of cinema. Similarly, his work with 99Media, which he co-founded in Canada, aligns with his belief in using art as a catalyst for change, championing stories that challenge societal norms and spark meaningful conversations.
With decades of experience in post-production as an editor, colorist, sound designer, and workflow consultant, as well as expertise in live and recorded sound engineering, Samer’s technical skill set complements his creative vision and leadership. His projects often highlight underrepresented voices, with a particular focus on refugee experiences and gender equality, reflecting his unwavering dedication to advancing the human condition.
Beyond the realm of filmmaking, Samer is also a passionate vegan chef. He incorporates sustainability and compassion into his culinary creations, blending traditional Levantine flavors with a modern plant-based approach. This dedication to ethical living further reflects his holistic commitment to a better world.
A true initiator of socially relevant projects, Samer’s work bridges education, activism, and artistic innovation. From founding his own film school to inspiring the next generation of storytellers, he continues to use his art and passions to shine a light on the challenges and triumphs of humanity, ensuring that stories of resilience and hope reach audiences worldwide.
Yal Solan
BFC Co-Founder, Singer, Poet, Multidisciplinary Artist
A Lebanese singer, actress, model, poet, and multidisciplinary artist who blends her poetry with her oriental roots, occidental influences and mystical inspirations. By marrying ethereal vocals and oriental sounds, she is carving her signature sound within the wide spectrum of soul, fusion and world music. Yal initially gained recognition in the Arab world for singing “Chou Original”, the theme song of the series Salon Zahra, in collaboration with artist, composer and producer Mike Massy in September 2021.
Since March 2022, Yal began releasing original music with her debut single “Silent Fireworks”, coined an “ethereal tour de force” by SceneNoise. Yal then formed her ensemble band, elevating her music to the stages of the most prominent artistic and cultural events, such as the international Sofar Sounds, Institut Français’ Fête de la Musique 2x, Raseef22’s media forum, and Metro Al Madina’s Tazaj.
In July 2023, Yal was one of 10 selected artists by Beirut & Beyond, where she got her hit single “La7ali”, to be arranged & produced in collaboration with composer and producer Bachar Mar-Khalife’s Paris-based label Balcoon. Yal was also one of 10 selected soul-pop vocalists in the MENA region for MDLBEAST’s Xperform in October 2023, and as a result, had her debut international performance in Riyadh at the XP Music Futures conference in December 2023.
Apart from music, Yal is an animator and graphic designer for NGOs, a fashion model, commercial actress, voice-over artist, and a dedicated yogi, absorbing the embodiment from her practices that shape and inspire her distinctive presence.
