FILMS SUPPORTED BY CINEPHILIA
FILMS PRODUCED BY CINEPHILIA
TALLAHASSEE
by Darine Hotait
2021 | USA, 22 minutes
On the day of her release from a psychiatric facility, Mira, an Arab American woman, attends her grandmother’s 90th birthday — only to discover that her sister Lara has lied to the family that she was on a trip to Florida.
Streaming now exclusively on
Festivals & Screenings:
- 10th Blackstar Film Festival (World Premiere, August 2021)
- 22nd Woodstock Film Festival (New York Premiere, September 2021)
- 5th El Gouna Film Festival (October 2021, MENA Premiere)
- Mizna Film Festival (September 2021)
- Boston Palestine Film Festival (October 2021)
- DC Palestine Arts & Film Festival (October 2021)
- Arab Film Festival, Detroit (November 2021)
- MENA Film Festival, Vancouver (November 2021)
- 19th Regent Park Film Festival, Toronto (December 2021)
- Cairo Shorts Film Festival (December 2021)
- Beirut Shorts International Film Festival (December 2021)
- The New Yorker Screening Room (Exclusive publication, January 2022)
Awards:
- Nominated Best Short Film at Woodstock Film Festival
- Best Short Film/Audience Award at Twin Cities Mizna Arab Film Festival
- Audience Award Best Short Narrative Film at Boston Palestine Film Festival
- Nominated for El Gouna Star at El Gouna Film Festival
Cinephilia Productions presents “TALLAHASSEE” A New Yorker Screening Room Film starring Hala Alyan, Cherien Dabis, Malek Holloway, with special guest Samia Halaby.
Directed by Darine Hotait
Written by Hala Alyan
Produced by Ryah Aqel
Co-produced by Munir Atalla
Executive producers: Hala Alyan, Darine Hotait, Bassema Yousef, Reema Dodin, Aya Al Blouchi.
Made with the support of SEAT26.
“Tallahassee makes an unconcealed nod to the loneliness and secrecy around mental illness, and the crushing solitude of lying. One of the triumphs of “Tallahassee” is its generosity. ”
Poster design by maece seirafi
“In Tallahassee, the director shows that no one should ever feel alone, no matter how isolated one may see themselves. Tallahassee extends that clarity to audiences while bringing home the feeling of celebration. The casting is on point throughout this really ambitious narrative.”
“NOMINATED BEST SHORT FILM”
“NOMINATED FOR EL GOUNA STAR”
“BEST SHORT FILM, AUDIENCE AWARD”
“BEST SHORT FILM, AUDIENCE AWARD”
LIKE SALT
by Darine Hotait
2018 - USA
25 minutes
FESTIVALS AND SCREENINGS:
. HBO HQ New York | Roster Showcase
. 13th Leiden International Film Festival
. 29th Journée Cinématographique De Carthage JCC
. 21st Reel Sisters of the Diaspora, New York
. 13th Tacoma Film Festival, Washington
. 12th Boston Palestine Film Festival, Boston
. 13th Mizna Twin Cities Arab Film Festival
. 5th Olhares De Mediterraneo, Lisbon
. 13th Lebanese Film Festival
. 42nd Montreal World Film Festival
. 10th Marfa Film Festival, Texas
. Festival Des Cinemas Arabes (Institut Du Monde Arabe), Paris
. 15th Utah Arts Festival, Salt Lake City
. 13th Cinetopia Film Festival, Detroit
“Best Experimental Narrative Short”
REVIEWS:
. Femme Magazine | Feature Interview, October 2018
. Women Cinemakers | Feature Interview, August 2018
. On Orient | Interview, August 2018 (in French)
. We Are Moving Stories | Interview, July 2018
“Excellent”
“Filmed with mastery”
“Extraordinary Moving Film”
“Darine Hotait’s Like Salt is a masterful work signed with intelligence and a precise sense of humor.”
During the 2006 Israeli attack on Lebanon, Hala, a Lebanese American boxer in New York City finds herself living through the unbearable survivor's guilt that presents her with a challenge to reconcile with her estranged father. During a quarrel at a jazz club that turns physical, Hala forms a bond with Kendrick who takes her on a road trip to quiet her anger.
Written & directed by Darine Hotait
Produced by Cinephilia Productions . In Co-Production with Digital Bodega
Producer: Erika Rydell & George Velez
Executive Producer: Daquan Saxton
Starring: Jessica Damouni (Hala) & Ben Williams (Kendrick)
Cast: Timothy Hickernell (Ran), Zayn Alexander (Sari), Sarah Bitar (Faten), Amal Khalil (Mona), Fady Kerko (Ahmed), JackSochet (Town Sheriff), Kareem Hegazi (Bodega Owner) & Salah Anwar (Bodega Employee).
Special Appearance: Tarek Yamani (Pianist), Theo Croker (Trumpet Player) & Jonathan Barber (Drummer).
Director of Photography: Autumn Eakin
Production Designer: Josefina Laban
Costume Designer/stylist: Lowri Best
Original Score: Tarek Yamani
Sound Design: Charles De Montebello/ CDM Sound Studios
Editor: Darine Hotait
Color grading: Jaime O'Bradovich/ Company 3
Visual Effects: Hecat Studio
Shot on location in New York City at Cornelia Street Cafe, in Brooklyn at Rollin' Studios and in Pennsylvania at The Lynnville Hotel.
Release Date: July 2018
AVAILABLE NOW ON
I SAY DUST
by Darine Hotait
2015 - USA
14 minutes
Awards:
. Winner Jury Award 'Best Creative Short'
21st Med Film Festival, Rome
. Winner 'Best Short Fiction'
3rd Herat International Women Film Festival, Afghanistan
. Winner 'Best Live-Action Short'
Winner 'Audience Award'
Winner 'Best in Fest'
Border Arts Film Festival, New Mexico
. Winner 'Best Short Fiction Jury Award'
2nd Women Media & Arts Film Festival, Sydney
. Winner Jury 'Special Mention Award'
5th Latin Arab Film Festival
. Winner Jury 'Special Mention Award'
12th Lebanese Film Festival
Upcoming screenings
. OutFest Film Festival by HBO
Los Angeles, California | July 10 (Harmony Gold)
. Lit Up Literature Festival - Manchester, UK | August 14 at FabCare
. 6th St.George Bank Lebanese Film Festival - Sydney, Australia | August 28 at The Theatre Bankstown Sports
. Mishkal Festival - Beirut, Lebanon | September 6 at 5:30pm at Madina Theater
. 2nd Scottish International Film Festival - Glasgow, Scotland | September 29 at Center of Contemporary Arts
. Proud Film Festival- Aarhus, Denmark | October 1
. New York Film Week - New York, USA | October 3-9
. 14th annual Southwest Film Festival - Albuquerque, New Mexico | Oct 7-16
. 10th Boston Palestine Film Festival - Boston, USA | October 14-30 at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
. Zebra Poetry Film Festival- Münster/Berlin, Germany | October 27-30
. 5th Evolution Mallorca International film festival - Palma De Mallorca, Spain | November 6 at Cineciutat
Past screenings:
. 2nd Women Media & Arts Film Festival - Sydney, Australia | September 2015
. 3rd Herat International Women Film Festival - Afghanistan | October 2015
. 66th Montecatini International Short Film Festival - Montecatini, Italy | October 2015
. 5th Homochrom Film Festival
Cologne, Germany | October 2015
. 5th Englewood International Film Festival
Chicago, USA | October 2015
. 15th International Diaspora Film Festival
Toronto, Canada | November 2015
. 29th Braunschweig International Film Festival - Germany | November 2015
. 5th Latin Arab International Film Festival
Buenos Aires, Argentina | November 2015
(director in attendance)
. 21st Med Film Festival
Rome, Italy | November 2015
(director in attendance)
. 10th Mizna Twin Cities Arab Film Festival
Minneapolis, USA | November 2015. 3rd Arab Camera Festival
Rotterdam, The Netherlands | November 2015 (director in attendance)
. 5th Eko International Film Festival
Lagos, Nigeria | November 2015
. 9th NDU International Film Festival
Beirut, Lebanon | November 2015
(director in attendance)
.14th Filmmor International Film Festival Women on Wheels - Istanbul, Turkey
4-10 March 2016
. 3rd Berlin Feminist Film Week
Berlin, Germany | 10 March 2016
. La Feminista Series at Les Femmes Underground International Film Festival- Venice, CA | 12 March 2016
. Socially Relevant Film Festival, New York | 17 March 2016 (Bow Tie Cinema Chelsea)
. 10th Female Film Festival Malmo
Malmo, Sweden | 4-10 April 2016
. Middle East Film and Comic Con, Dubai Screening + Panel | 8 April 2016 (director in attendance)
. 11th Festival International du Film Oriental de Geneve | 11-17 April 2016
. Long Week of Short Films Festival in China
Shanghai, China | May 5-15 at Minsheng Museum of Contemporary Arts in Shanghai
. Short Film Corner at Cannes Film Festival
Cannes, France | May 16-20
. 2nd Reel Festival of World Cinema
Sydney, Australia | May 21 (Sutherland Entertainment Centre)
. New Filmmakers New York
New York, USA | May 25 (Anthology Film Archives) (director in attendance)
. Lebanese Film Festival
Beirut, Lebanon | June 2
. Vilnius Kreives LGBT Festival - Lithuania | June 15-22
. 6th National Literary Gathering Mizna + RAWI
Minneapolis, USA | June 17 at Open Book
“There is romance, sweet and ephemeral - an encounter more potent, perhaps, for the sense of coming home. A thoughtful film which packs a lot of ideas into a tight space, I Say Dust speaks well to the talents of those involved. It’s no surprise that it has multiple awards to its name.”
“In 15 minutes of beautifully shot frames, you travel through time, space, and various emotions. Hotait flirts with ideals that go beyond the norm of Arab-American culture, like two same-sex characters kissing. But she is clear that this isn’t meant to raise eyebrows or push buttons; she is merely translating what she sees as reality. This short film, like her others, packs a punch.”
“The characters are complex, the writing - interspersed with poetry - is so touching, and the shots so poignant it just seems like a damn shame it’s a short film rather than a feature length film.”
“I Say Dust is cleverly written, curiously directed and brilliantly performed.”
“The director Darine Hotait challenges the limits of conservatism with delicate elegance and metaphors. She also glimpses a concept of identity that is elastic, poetic and ever-changing. Only in this way, from a world without attachments, I Say Dust surrenders to the power of words.”
“For the delicacy and intimacy with which this short was able to express a problem, that of diaspora, and be very intense and exciting. The inner world can structure the outer. Life writes poetry and poetry writes life, in this sense, I SAY DUST has managed to achieve the human desire to share it, and tell it.”
Two Arab-American women in New York City fall in love, argue home and identity, engage in a chess battle, and express themselves through the power of the spoken word. 'I Say Dust' explores poetry in cinema through the story of Hal, a poet belonging to the Palestinian diaspora in NYC, who meets Moun, a free-spirited chess boards sales girl. Their brief love affair challenges their understanding of what makes home.
Keywords: Diaspora, Poetry, Arab American, Identity, Love, Women, Chess
Genre: Drama, Romance, LGBT
written & directed by Darine Hotait
produced by Dina Emam
cast: Mounia Akl, Hala Alyan
director of photography: George Lyon
production designer: Francisca Alegria Zenteno
editor: Darine Hotait
music: Tarek Yamani
set photography: Luc Kordas
Shot on location in New York City at Chess Forum and Alwan For The Arts.
Release Date: September 26. 2015
AVAILABLE ON
REVIEWS
. Kalimat magazine, July 30th, 2015 by Wided Khadraoui
. Escribiendocine, November 11, 2015 by Rolando Gallego (Buenos Aires)
. Diario Sirio Libanes, February 16, 2016 by Jodor Jalit (Buenos Aires)
. Florence of Arabia, March 7, 2016 by Zahra Hankir (London)
. The Establishment, April 7th, 2016 by Jasmine Bager Cruz
. We Are Moving Stories, May 23, 2016 by Carmela Baranowska
. Agenda Culturel, June 14, 2016
. LA TIMES June 22, 2016 by Trevell Andreson
. AfterEllen July 7, 2016 by Erin Faith Wilson
. Eye For Film September 26, 2016 by Jennie Kermode (Edinburgh)
. Your Middle East October 12, 2016 by Kurt Werren/Victor Argo
. Boston Palestine Film Festival October 26, 2016 Interview
ASH
by Yasmina Hatem
2013 - LEBANON/USA
15 minutes
download EPK
Festivals:
Montreal World Film Festival - 2013
Beirut International Film Festival - 2013
Lebanese Film Festival - 2014
International Film Week Regensburg - 2014
Lebanese Film Festival - Sydney 2014
Based on true facts, a young boy takes a shisha delivery job to help his ailing mother but it turns out to be a lot more than he bargained for.
written & directed by Yasmina Hatem
produced by Darine Hotait
In collaboration with Outbox Film Festival
cast: Zayn Makdessi, Hussein Khazaal, Naji Hatem, Joy Karam, Assaad Kassab
director of photography: Karim Ghorayeb
production design: Issa Kandil
editor: Darine Hotait
music: Tarek Yamani
sound design: Bilal Yamani
trailer editor: Ala'a Yamani
set photography: Jean Boutros
AVAILABLE ON
BEIRUT HIDE & SEEK
by Darine Hotait
2011 - USA
35 minutes
Awards:
. Winner Audience Award at Zero Film Festival in Los Angeles
. Winner Best Short Film at Evolution International Film Festival
. Winner Best Original Score at Los Angeles International Film Festival
. Honorable Mention at Los Angeles International Film Festival
. Nominated Best Foreign Short Film at International Filmmaker Film Festival in UK
Festivals:
La Cabina Film festival
San Francisco Int. Women Film Festival
Zero Film Festival
Evolution International Film Festival
Los Angeles International Film Festival
International Filmmaker Film Festival
Lebanese Film Festival
Cannes Short Film Corner
Clermont Ferrand Film Market
Reviews:
. La Cabina ‘Beirut… Hide & Seek’ de Darine Hotait, sélection officielle de ‘La Cabina 2011’.
. Elle Orientale Talent A Suivre
. Time Out Magazine Close Up: Darine Hotait
Beirut 1982 - A family is stuck in the middle of civil war. The war, up to this point political, becomes an internal family struggle when Jamila discovers the secret queer relationship between her brother Samir and his friend Omar.
written & directed by Darine Hotait
produced by Romson Niega
cast: Elissa Boustani, Aurore Joly, John Prudhont, Charles Marina, Abazar Noorizad, Hanan Helwe, Hamza Saman
director of photography: Mary Doyle
production design: Ying-Te Julie Chen
editor: Abazar Noorizad
original score: Nathan Matthew David
sound design: Blaine O'Brien
