Cinephilia Productions

04/08/2025

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Filmlab Palestine and Cinephilia Productions present the 5th edition of The Story Lab, formerly known as Sunbird Stories, a development and production program dedicated to supporting Arab filmmakers in creating high-quality short films for Arabic-speaking children and youth audiences.

Up to six promising projects for children, young adults, and families will be selected from among the Arab applicants to develop their projects for production through an intensive three-month program that includes scriptwriting, directing, production, and financial and promotional plans.

A jury of film professionals will select a project to receive a $20,000 prize along with in-kind post-production services.

To apply, visit Filmlab's website and make sure to read the eligibility requirements and project criteria carefully prior to submitting your application.

Application deadline: May 6, 2025

دعوة لتقديم الطلبات

تعلن فيلم لاب فلسطين وسينيفيلييا للانتاج عن عودة مختبر الحكايات (حكايات طائر الشمس سابقاً) في نسخته الخامسة، برنامج مصمم لإلهام صانعي الأفلام لاستكشاف أهمية سرد القصص للجمهور الشاب، والأطفال واليافعين

يُوفِّر مختبر الحكايات عملية تدريب وتطوير مُنظَّمة ومُكثَّفة لمدة خمسة أشهر، يًطوّر خلالها صُنَّاع الأفلام المشاركون مشاريعهم في ثلاثة مجالات رئيسية: كتابة السيناريو، وإخراج الممثلين الأطفال، والإنتاج

صُمِّمَ البرنامج لدعم ما يصل إلى ستة مشاريع، مُزوِّدًا كلَّ فريق صناعة أفلام بالمهارات والمعرفة المرتبطة بصناعة الأفلام واستراتيجيات الإنتاج اللازمة للمضيِّ بمشاريعهم نحو الإنتاج. في ختام البرنامج، تُقيِّم لجنة تحكيم من قطاع صناعة الأفلام المشاريع المُشاركة، وتمنح مشروعًا واحدًا جائزة إنتاج بقيمة 20,000 دولار أمريكي، بالإضافة إلى دعمٍ عينيٍّ لمرحلة ما بعد الإنتاج

للتقديم، قم بزيارة موقع فيلم لاب الالكتروني وتأكد من قراءة متطلبات ومعايير المشروع بعناية قبل تقديم طلبك

آخر موعد لتقديم الطلبات: 6 أيار، 2025

https://flp.ps/calls-and-submissions/story-lab-2025
https://flp.ps/calls-and-submissions/mkhtbr-alhkayat-2025

03/17/2025

Cinephilia is thrilled to introduce the mentors for the Cinephilia Producing Incubator — a powerhouse lineup of industry leaders who will guide and support emerging director-producer teams in developing and packaging their narrative feature film projects.

Meet the mentors:

⭐️ Karen McMullen — Festival Director/Head of Programming at Urbanworld Film Festival and Senior Programmer at DOC NYC film festivals, former programmer at Tribeca

⭐️ Mohamed Kordofani — Writer/director of Goodbye Julia, premiered in Festival de Cannes Un Certain Regard section.

⭐️ Rula Nasser — Producer of “The Alleys”, “The Holy Spider”, “Inchallah Wallah” which premiered at the in 2023.

⭐️ Sarah Al-Qatou — Producer & development executive, Creative Executive at . Previously CE at Issa Rae Presents banner Horrae

⭐️ Theodora Dunlap — Emmy Award-winning film producer. Her credits include The Independent (Relativity Media), Long Weekend (Sony Pictures ), Born to Play (ESPN), The Last Shift (Sony, Sundance 2020), and Farewell Amor (IFC, Sundance Film Festival 2020).

⭐️Tina Gharavi — BAFTA nominated writer/director, and director of Netflix Queen Cleopatra.

⭐️Darine Hotait — Writer/ director of The New Yorker ’s film “Tallahassee”, Named on Disney+ list of Directors on the Rise, Founder of Cinephilia Productions

⭐️ Brad Saunders — Screenwriter/Director of “The Lounge People” on Comedy Central and the STARZ Network.

This 4-month incubator provides expert mentorship, strategic insights, and industry connections to help filmmakers refine their projects, strengthen their pitch materials, and navigate financing and sales. 🎞️💡

📢 Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this journey to elevate new voices in cinema!

Learn more about Cinephilia Producing Incubator
www.cinephiliaproductions.com/producingincubator

01/15/2025

Congrats to Cinephilia fellow Sarah Francis and her team on the World Premiere of “Dead Dog” at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Dead Dog received the support of Cinephilia Productions through the Cinephilia Bound Cannes program. Best of luck to Sarah, the cast and crew. If you are attending IFFR make sure to check out the film!

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.