What an honor to join the Cinephilia Film & TV Development Workroom! This unique experience for emerging and professional film & television writers and directors boosted me through the fall season. I truly enjoyed spending the last four week working with Darine Hotait as well as this lovely creative cohort including Celeste Martinez, Juanpedro David Salazar, Sarah Trad, Ella Vance, Carla Wanyika and Amir Youssef.

Founded in 2010 by writer and film director Darine Hotait, Cinephilia Productions is a New York–based film production company, development studio, and talent incubator dedicated to championing filmmakers from Africa, the Arab world, Southwest Asia, and Latin America. This was my first experience developing my script with other participants identifying from MENA and SWANA heritage.

The unique resonance of this group reminded me that my story will meet a passionate audience, an audience whose struggles and triumphs mirror my own and who has a unique perspective shaped by the world view of and from that is currently referred to as the Middle East. Soul searching with this script led me here. I know I am exactly where I need to be on my journey home to myself.