NAAS held its first fundraising event, titled Al- Fannan(a): A Ciné-Performance of The Artist, at Metropolis Cinema in Beirut.

The Oscar-winning feature film that enthralled audiences worldwide in 2011 was screened with a live performance based on an adapted screenplay by Jowe Harfouche, Michelle Keserwany, and Edwin Nasr and performed as a staged reading by Nadine Labaki, Georges Khabbaz, Zeina Daccache, Rodrigue Sleiman, Cynthia Khalifeh, and Simi Merheb.

The fundraiser was a landmark achievement for NAAS: the organization raised funds independently of grants and institutional partnerships for the first time ever and was able to produce the event at a low cost thanks to in-kind donations and sponsorships. The event served as an introduction to NAAS’s activities to the general public and local press in Lebanon, attracting more than 250 people. The performance’s innovative format took place in the presence of the NAAS members who were present in Beirut to attend the network’s general assembly the next day.