The Roots
With a track record that includes films premiering at prestigious international film festivals such as Locarno Film Festival, British Film Institute, Blackstar Film Festival, and broadcasting on AMC Networks, Netflix, BBC, Sundance Channel, and The New Yorker, the team’s expertise boasts a wealth of experience in producing and developing award-winning films.
FOUNDERS
Darine Hotait is a writer and film director based in New York City. Named on Disney’s 2022 list of directors on the Rise, Darine has written and directed a dozen narrative films that can be seen on Sundance Channel, The New Yorker, AMC Networks, BBC, and at international film festivals. Darine is the recipient of prestigious awards and fellowships such as the New York Council on the Arts Artist Prize, the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, the Jerome Foundation Award, and the North Manhattan Arts Alliance Prize. She is the founder of Cinephilia Productions – an incubator of over 2,000 film & TV projects. Darine is also a published science fiction author and playwright. She recently made her off-Broadway directorial debut with the hit-comedy play Mokeb and is currently working on he debut feature film Crowd Surfing.
Hanna Atallah is a filmmaker, producer, and cultural arts manager based in Berlin and Jerusalem. He is the founder and artistic director of Filmlab Palestine, director of the Palestine Cinema Days film festival, and co-founder of August Films. Atallah has played a vital role in developing the Palestinian film industry and supporting emerging cinematic voices. His work focuses on storytelling that elevates marginalized and underrepresented narratives. His latest productions in 2024 include “Thank You for Banking with Us” by Laila Abbas, which premiered at the BFI London Film Festival and won Best Feature Film at El Gouna Film Festival, and “UPSHOT” by Maha Haj, which won Best Short Film at the Locarno Film Festival.
PARTNER & DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
Amina Abodoma is a London-based Creative and Development Executive with extensive experience in the film and television industry. A graduate of the prestigious National Film and Television School (NFTS) in London, Amina has built her career as a script developer and consultant, playing a pivotal role in shaping compelling screen narratives. She has contributed her expertise to several acclaimed TV series, including Echoes of the Past (Netflix), Without Prior Notice (Watchit), and the adaptation of The Killing, Monataf Khatar (Shahid). Amina has held senior roles at leading production companies in the Arab region, where she oversaw the development of original scripted content and supported emerging talent. She has also collaborated with UK-based companies, including Idris Elba’s Green Door Pictures. Throughout her career, she has helped writers craft bold and emotionally resonant stories for the screen and supported directors in achieving their vision.