Docuseries Arabs: Old Stock Canadians
Language: English / Arabic with English subtittles
Based On: Original Screenplay
Project Type: Documentary series
Genre: Documentary
Stage of Development: Preproduction
Estimated Length (minutes): 30 minutes / 6 episode
Director: Taghreed Saadeh
Director Bio:
Taghreed Saadeh is a Palestinian Canadian award-winning director with over 15 years of experience in documentary filmmaking. A graduate of George Brown College’s filmmaking program, Saadeh has directed numerous impactful documentaries that have received national and international recognition.
Her film Rough Cut won Best ShortFilm at the Artivist Film Festival in Hollywood and the Audience Award at the New Orleans Middle East Film Festival (2009).
In 2014, she was honored by the Moroccan Ministry of Culture and received international recognition for her film Returnees at the Khrebka Documentary International Film Festival in Morocco. In 2015, she was awarded for her role as a directing trainer during the Capital of Islamic Culture celebrations in Nazwa, Oman. Her
film I am Arab Canadian nominated for best doc in AFAQ Film Festival, May 2025 Germany
She has also served as a jury member for numerous filmfestivals, including the Edmonton Short Film Festival (2021, 2024), the Alberta International Women’s Film Festival (2019) and head Jury at Al Awda International Film Festival - Gaza, Palestine. May 2025.
Proposed or Confirmed Talent: Taghreed Saadeh: Producer / writer/ direcror
Total Budget: $553900
Percent Confirmed: 9.37%
Currency: CAD
List names of confirmed partners:
FIRMED FINANCING
Edmonton Arts Council (Development) — $25,000
Edmonton Heritage Council (Development) — $10,000
RAM Film Production INC.— $16,900 contribution from the filmmaker Taghreed Saadeh’s company.
What is this project seeking? Financing, Sales Agent, Broadcaster, Co-production Partner
Logline:
Arabs: Old Stock Canadians is a six-part documentary series that tells 140 years of Arab Canadian history. It highlights contributions to cultural, political, and economic life while spotlighting Sunni, Shiite, Christian, Jewish, Druze, and Ismaili communities and their shared heritage.
Synopsis:
Arabs: Old Stock Canadians is a six-part documentary series that traces the 140-year history of Arab communities in Canada. The series explores the emergence of Arab Canadian identities, beginning with the first waves of immigrants from Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt who settled in Canada in the late nineteenth century. It highlights the many ways Arab Canadians have shaped the country's cultural, political, and economic landscape.
Each 30-minute episode explores a distinct theme through personal stories, archival materials, and expert commentary. Together, the six episodes examine immigration and settlement, identity and belonging, faith and community, entrepreneurship and media, civic engagement, and the enduring contributions of Arab Canadians to Canadian society. The series features the diversity of Arab Canadian experiences across Sunni, Shiite, Christian, Jewish, Druze, and Ismaili communities, showcasing a rich and multifaceted heritage. From establishing the first mosque in North America to building successful businesses, launching media outlets, and participating in political life, the series reveals the lasting impact of Arab Canadians across generations.
At its core, Arabs: Old Stock Canadians challenges stereotypes and misconceptions by presenting a nuanced and deeply human portrait of a community that has been part of Canada's story for more than a century. While celebrating achievements and resilience, the series also addresses difficult realities, including racism, displacement, Islamophobia, and the ongoing pursuit of recognition and belonging within a multicultural society.
Filmed in Edmonton and other key Canadian locations, the series combines historical research with contemporary testimony, connecting the past with the present. By weaving together individual journeys and collective history, Arabs: Old Stock Canadians offers audiences a deeper understanding of the people, stories, and experiences that continue to shape Canada's diverse national identity.
Contact Information:
