Laham, filmmaker extraordinaire and proud father’s son, looks back on his life in awe as he realizes how the $5 allowance given by his dad every day during childhood bloomed into an incredible career.

Salim Laham’s journey from Dearborn to Lebanon was by no means easy, having to teach himself a language and start a life there with little knowledge. But his love of movies kept him going.

Salim Laham remembers fondly being taken as a kid to the local movie rental in Detroit, where it all started for him – captivating film scenes that soon turned into scripts committed entirely to memory!

This small investment has shaped a golden path leading to success beyond anything one could have imagined!

Laham had a lifelong dream of making movies, and, despite having little money to start with, he managed to make his first film, “Joy,” on an extremely modest budget.

With a meager budget of just $2,000- half of which went towards lodging for himself and his crew members – Laham managed to shoot a movie in two days that would take him around the world!

The movie explored the difficulties one might face if they suddenly lose the ability to play music – something Laham was personally afraid of happening as it is many people’s worst nightmare.

His feature-length debut, “Joy,” tells an emotional story about conversion disorder (mostly occurring in women under 18), where one loses sense due to built-up stress and trauma.

Following its release in September 2022, “JOY” swept 13 awards for its heartfelt story that captured universal fears through compelling cinematography and thought-provoking performances from both cast and crew alike.

“For an Arab-Muslim filmmaker here in Dearborn, and in a completely different community that doesn’t have any Arab filmmakers, to win an award with an Arab language shows you how much different our community is evolving. And if somebody saw me in the street, I want to show them that, no, there are Lebanese or Palestinian or any Arab filmmakers that want to shift your perspective on the media,” Laham says.

Salim has ambitious plans for his filmmaking career. He hopes to make a lasting impact on the Dearborn area by collaborating with other filmmakers and expanding his work at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.