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A collection of films by women filmmakers examining identity, family, migration, and personal transformation through intimate and powerful storytelling.
When Sama’s girlfriend blows off their Friday plans, the teen copes with romantic rejection by blasting music in her room. When her dad suggests hanging out, she agrees. Their evening takes an unexpected turn as a message forces her to choose between authenticity and keeping up appearances.
Director Biography - Karina Dandashi
Karina Dandashi is a Syrian-American Muslim filmmaker born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Her work has been featured in numerous Oscar-Qualifying festivals around the U.S. and programs at The Museum of Modern Art and The American Cinematheque. Karina was a 2020 Creative Culture Fellow at The Jacob Burns Film Center and a 2021 Sundance Ignite Fellow. She was featured in Marie Claire’s inaugural Creators Issue as one of the “Top 21 Creators to Watch” in 2022. Her feature script OUT OF WATER was selected by Film Independent for their 2023 Screenwriting Lab and was awarded three grants from MPAC, The Heinz Endowments, and The Jerome Foundation. Her latest short film BABA I’M FINE had its World Premiere at SXSW in 2025 and is available to watch on the WQED+ app and featured on Short of the Week. Her short film COUSINS is available on The New Yorker and is a Vimeo Staff Pick. She's currently working on her debut feature based on this short with the same title.
- Year2025
- Runtime14 minutes
- LanguageArabic, English
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorKarina Dandashi
- ScreenwriterKarina Dandashi
- ProducerStephen Turselli, Dan Duthie
- CastHibah Abdellatif, Aladeen Tawfeek, Michelle Do
- CinematographerTehillah De Castro
- EditorTaylor Gianotas
A collection of films by women filmmakers examining identity, family, migration, and personal transformation through intimate and powerful storytelling.
When Sama’s girlfriend blows off their Friday plans, the teen copes with romantic rejection by blasting music in her room. When her dad suggests hanging out, she agrees. Their evening takes an unexpected turn as a message forces her to choose between authenticity and keeping up appearances.
Director Biography - Karina Dandashi
Karina Dandashi is a Syrian-American Muslim filmmaker born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. Her work has been featured in numerous Oscar-Qualifying festivals around the U.S. and programs at The Museum of Modern Art and The American Cinematheque. Karina was a 2020 Creative Culture Fellow at The Jacob Burns Film Center and a 2021 Sundance Ignite Fellow. She was featured in Marie Claire’s inaugural Creators Issue as one of the “Top 21 Creators to Watch” in 2022. Her feature script OUT OF WATER was selected by Film Independent for their 2023 Screenwriting Lab and was awarded three grants from MPAC, The Heinz Endowments, and The Jerome Foundation. Her latest short film BABA I’M FINE had its World Premiere at SXSW in 2025 and is available to watch on the WQED+ app and featured on Short of the Week. Her short film COUSINS is available on The New Yorker and is a Vimeo Staff Pick. She's currently working on her debut feature based on this short with the same title.
- Year2025
- Runtime14 minutes
- LanguageArabic, English
- CountryUnited States
- DirectorKarina Dandashi
- ScreenwriterKarina Dandashi
- ProducerStephen Turselli, Dan Duthie
- CastHibah Abdellatif, Aladeen Tawfeek, Michelle Do
- CinematographerTehillah De Castro
- EditorTaylor Gianotas