Metropolis’ common vision with other independent cinemas and non-governmental institutions led to the emergence of the Network of Arab Alternative Screens (NAAS) in 2008.

The network’s mission is to establish and enhance valuable synergies in distribution, programming, promotion and training in the MENA region. Keen on striking a balance between the promotion of Arab and International films, NAAS members gather on a yearly basis to put in place common strategies respecting the specificities of each one’s location and culture.

Since 1955, the CICAE has been working to promote cultural diversity in cinemas and festivals.

Today, the CICAE brings together 3,000 screens via 7 national structures (1,000 cinemas in France, 2,400 in Italy, 300 in Germany, 90 in Switzerland, 40 in Hungary, 15 in Belgium, 14 in Venezuela), a few dozen independent cinemas in approximately 21 countries (Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Spain, Poland, Portugal, America, Morocco), 20 festivals (including Berlin, Cannes, Sarajevo, Annecy, Hamburg, Mons, ...), as well as a number of arthouse film distributors.

Objectives:
- To encourage arthouse cinemas to come together under a common umbrella at the national and international levels.
- To obtain support for arthouse films from government bodies.
- To foster the distribution of high quality films from all countries, in all countries.
- Through targeted cultural initiatives, to promote the screening of art films in order to increase audiences and foster production.

Thus the arthouse cinema industry is (also) a market, which connects quality films with their main "consumers", i.e. cinema enthusiasts.

Metropolis has been part of this network since 2006.