Cinephilia Productions

11/08/2024

Congrats to Cinephilia fellow Areeb Zuaiter for the World Premiere of her film Yalla Parkour at DOC NYC DOC NYC (project supported by Cinephilia
Bound Cannes program)
Book your tickets: First screening: Saturday, November 16th, at Village East Cinema (followed by Q&A) Second screening: Sunday, November IFC CenterFC Center

https://www.docnyc.net/film/yalla-parkour/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3Tder5kqoEStntmdKNQaHjp6hdr3nfFSc5IbNubqDZj9Cy8UfJDnNOR7E_aem_Fy7t82UdrritCSxob10_5Q

When filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter lost her Palestinian mother, she lost her connection to Gaza. With all the memories from her childhood destroyed, she sets out on a quest to connect with a young man she sees in a video doing parkour among ruins in Gaza. With Ahmed as her guide, she explores life in Gaza, and rebuilds her memories of her mother and her childhood. In this time when Gaza and its people are being devastated every day, Yalla Parkour is a portrait of a tormented city and the perseverance of its people.

10/28/2024

Cinephilia is pleased to announce the official selection of Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom with six projects by filmmakers Aina Carter (Caribbean/Canada), Anahita Dehbonehie (Iran), Hala Alhaid (Saudi Arabia), Kierston Drier (Canada), Manel Djafer (Algeria), Victoria Dunn (USA), and Waleed Alqahtani (Saudi Arabia). Learn more about the filmmakers and their projects:

Official selection: Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom, November 2024.

01/20/2024

Cinephilia is pleased to announce the official selection of Cinephilia Film & TV workroom with 5 projects by filmmakers Tarek Al Ariss (Lebanon), Walta Gabriel Busulwa (Uganda/Canada), Olivia Khoshatefeh (USA), Sousana Maragkou (Greece/USA), Ridah Farooqui (UK/USA), and Cansu Obiz (Turkey/USA).
Learn more about the filmmakers and their projects:

Official selection: Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom, January 2024.

11/27/2023

Application deadline: December 1st. www.cinephiliaproductions.com/workroom

09/13/2023

Cinephilia is pleased to announce the official selection of the Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom (September 2023 session) with 5 feature film & TV projects by filmmakers Estephan Khattar, Abdallah Jamal Alkhatib, Zaid BaQaeen, Gülce Öksüz, and Dina Amin.
Learn more about the filmmakers and their projects:

Official selection: Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom, June 2023 Session.

06/16/2023

Cinephilia Productions & Filmlab: Palestine are pleased to announce the official selection of the 4th edition of the Sunbird Stories 2023 program:

- Sanaam, by Mahmoud Assi (writer/ director), Mark Lotfy (producer) Egypt.

- Little Zoe and Chill by Jamil Lahham, Syria/ Canada

- Zizou, by Khaled Moeit (writer/ director), Ahmad Sobhy and Marwa Tammam (producers), Egypt.

- Goodbye Habibi by Mohammed Elsherif (writer/ director), Palestine/USA.

- Jad’s Mistake by Hiba Chaari (writer/ director), Bahija Essoussi and Samuel Gagnon (producers), Morocco.

- The Bulldozer by Mira Sidawi (writer/ director), Palestine/ Lebanon.

The Sunbird Stories Program aims to develop and produce imaginative and thought-provoking short films for Arabic-speaking children audiences by professional filmmakers.
A jury of industry professionals will award one project $20,000.

06/06/2023

We have the pleasure to announce the Cinephilia Lab 2023 Mentors and Guest Speakers: Rukayat Giwa (Agent, CAA), Sergio Lira (Film Executive, A24), Ellie Foumbi (writer/director/actress), Maryam Keshavarz (writer/director/producer), Areej Noor (founder of Statement Films), Darine Hotait (writer/director, Cinephilia founder, script consultant), and Brad Saunders (writer and script consultant).

Cinephilia Lab is a 3-month program focused on the development of early career Film & TV writers to advance their professional careers and package their projects. Open to Cinephilia fellows and by invitation only.

Learn more about Cinephilia Lab:
www.cinephiliaproductions.com/lab2023

06/06/2023

ANNOUNCING OFFICIAL SELECTION: CINEPHILIA LAB 2023— Cohort of Feature Film and TV Series writers presented by Cinephilia Productions

Narrative Feature Films:
Guardian by Sina Sultani
Ceramic Tissues by Rimah Jabr
The Feast by Marwan Imam
Futures by Jonathan D'Rozario

Episodic TV Series:
Work in Progress by Mira Nimri
Wander by Samah Fadil

Check out the filmmakers projects link in bio:
www.cinephiliaproductions.com/lab2023

Cinephilia Lab is a 3-month program focused on the development of early career Film & TV writers to advance their professional careers and package their projects. Open to Cinephilia fellows and by invitation only.

Cinephilia Lab 2023 Mentors and guest speakers include Rukayat Giwa (Agent, CAA), Sergio Lira (Development Executive, A24), Ellie Foumbi (writer/director), Maryam Keshavarz (writer/director), Areej Noor (founder of Statement Films), Darine Hotait (writer/director/founder of Cinephilia), and Brad Saunders (writer and script consultant).

04/19/2023

Cinephilia is pleased to announce the official selection of the Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom with 4 projects by filmmakers Mohamed Soliman, Sondos Shabayek, Sheifunmi Yusuf, and Youssef Abubakr.
Learn more about the filmmakers and their projects.

Official selection: Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom, April 2023 Session.

03/15/2023

OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS:
Cinephilia and Filmlab: Palestine invite Arab film professionals to apply for the 4th edition of the Sunbird Stories Program – a program that aims to develop and produce up to five imaginative and thought-provoking short films for Arabic-speaking children audiences by professional filmmakers. A jury of industry professionals will award one project $20,000. To apply, please read the eligibility requirements and project criteria carefully prior to submitting your application.

فتح باب التقديم: برنامج حكايات طائر الشمس
تدعو مؤسسة فيلم لاب فلسطين، وسينيفيليا للإنتاج صناع الأفلام العرب للتقدم لبرنامج حكايات طائر الشمس بنسخته الرابعة،
سيتم اختيار خمسة أعمال واعدة موجهة للأطفال، واليافعين، والعائلة من مشاريع المتقدمين العرب للعمل على تطوير
مشاريعهم وتجهيزها للإنتاج من خلال برنامج مكثف لثلاثة أشهر : كتابة السيناريو ، الإخراج، وملف الإنتاج وخطط مالية
وترويجية.
ستقوم لجنة من السينمائيين باختيار مشروع ليحصل على جائزة قيمتها 20,000$.
للتقدم والمشاركة، يرجى قراءة شروط الأهلية والقبول قبل المباشرة بعملية التقديم

Open Call for Applications: 4th edition Sunbird Stories 2023. Cinephilia Productions and Filmlab Palestine invite Arab film professionals to apply for the 4th edition of the Sunbird Stories Program – a program that aims to develop and produce up to five imaginative and thought-provoking short film...

01/13/2023

Cinephilia is pleased to announce the official selection of the Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom (January 2023 session) with 5 projects by filmmakers Maggie Kamal, Mark Hanna, Amal Seela, Chioma Paul-Dike, and Omar Rammal. Learn more about the filmmakers and their projects:

Official selection: Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom, January 2023 Session.

11/16/2022

Cinephilia is pleased to announce the official selection of the Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom (November 2022 session) with 4 projects by filmmakers Shaden Safieddine Tazi, Jonathan D'Rozario, Saleh Saadi, Mashal Kawasmi, and Abdullah H. Erakat. Learn more about the filmmakers and their projects

Official selection: Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom, November 2022 Session.

11/15/2022

Submissions are now open for the 2023 Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom. Filmmakers working on a narrative short, feature or episodic TV show are welcome to apply.

Check the eligibility requirements and apply

Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom is designed to offer a unique experience for both emerging and professional film & television writers. During the 4-week sessions, writers will be guided through the process of developing a narrative screenplay using hands-on exercises, creating proj

11/15/2022

Sunbird Stories 3rd edition Jury, mentors, and guest speakers 🔥🔥🔥
Sunbird Stories is a program launched by Filmlab: Palestine & Cinephilia Productions to develop and produce short films for children and youth audiences by Arab filmmakers. The jury awards one project a $ 20k prize.

09/27/2022

Cinephilia is pleased to announce the official selection of the Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom (October session) with 6 projects by filmmakers Kawthar Younis (Egypt), Sonia Mackwani (India), Richa Rudola (USA/India), Heliya Alam (Iran/USA), Anna May Samson (Australia), and Rimah Jabr (Palestine/Canada). Learn more about the filmmakers' projects:

Official selection: Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom, October 2022 Session.

09/12/2022

Congrats to and for successfully wrapping production on their short film “The Red Stripe”, the winner project of the Sunbird Stories production Prize 2021. 🥳👏🏽

SUNBIRD STORIES is a development and production program launched by and to develop films for children audiences by Arab filmmakers.

08/22/2022

We are pleased to announce the Cinephilia Lab 2022 mentors and speakers:

EKWA MSANGI (Writer/Director)
Ekwa’s critically acclaimed feature film Farewell Amor premiered in competition at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. The film won the Sundance Amazon Producer’s Award, NYWIFT Directing, NYWIFT Director’s Award, the 2020 Durban International Film Festival award for Best Screenplay, and the 2021 Indie Spirit “Someone To Watch” Award, and was bought for distribution by IFC Films for North America, MUBI and Netflix for Worldwide.

SAHAR JAHANI (Writer)
Sahar Jahani has written for several shows including the Peabody-winning Hulu series RAMY, MTV'S UNDRESSED, 13 REASONS WHY, THE BOLD TYPE, and most recently the mystery limited series, ECHOES (premiering on Netflix this August). On the film side, Sahar adapted the novel AYESHA AT LAST for Columbia Pictures / Amy Pascal and is currently adapting the YOU'VE GOT MAIL inspired feature, HANA KHAN CARRIES ON, for Amazon Studios and Executive Producer Mindy Kaling.

SHRUTI GANGULY (Producer/Writer/Director)
Shruti Ganguly has produced several films including Spirit Award-winner H., and the Nora Ephron Prize-winner INITIALS SG that have premiered at Sundance. Shruti started honto88, a production company that She launched with a narrative feature, GREEN DOLPHIN, by director Chris Kenneally and EP Keanu Reeves.

DARINE HOTAIT (Writer/Director, Lab Mentor)
Named on Disney’s Launchpad 2022 list of Directors on the Rise, Darine Hotait’s films can be seen on Sundance Channel, The New Yorker, AMC Networks, BBC, Forbes, and at international film festivals. She is the founder of New York-based Cinephilia Productions.

BRAD SAUNDERS (Script Consultant)
Bradd Saunders is a screenwriter, screenwriting teacher, film director, playwright, and published novelist. His movie The Lounge People played in theaters internationally and on Comedy Central, and the Starz Network. His play, Detective Nicky Carruthers is Dead was produced at the Powerhouse Theater, in Los Angeles. The Dorchester County Sheriff Department’s Annual Ball was produced at the Missing Children Theater, starring Adrienne Shelly, in New York.

08/19/2022

We are thrilled to announce the official selection of 8 projects in the Cinephilia Lab 2022, a film & tv writers cohort.

2022 PROJECTS OFFICIAL SELECTION
Feature Films:
La Belle Afrique by Abisola Aboaba (Nigeria)
Ya’eesh by Diana Abousaleh (USA)
An Endless Night by Moh'd Kassaby (Egypt)
Algorithm by Josh Seven (India)
Zocheret/Sankofa by Nakita Joseph (USA)
Television Series:
The Re-Collect by Joel Farran (USA)
The Ground Screams to Whisper by Nyambura M. Waruingi (Kenya)
Khalifa by Noora Alawadi (UAE)

During the lab, filmmakers develop their projects and their craft over the period of 3 months with the guidance of mentors, consultants and guest speakers.

Learn more about the projects: www.cinephiliaproductions.com/advancedlab