IF BIRDS BELIEVED IN GOD

2025 - Political/Psychological Drama

Made in Association with New York University

A Palestinian man strives to be a photographer in New York City, but experiences surreal psychological visions as he struggles with generational trauma.

The story follows a day in the life of Ismail, a Palestinian photographer who’s American life and upbringing was ultimately dictated by his grandfather becoming a refugee in the 1948 Palestine Nakba. The driving force of the story revolves around when Ismail’s mother gifts him a Keffiyeh, a traditional Palestinian scarf, symbolizing his internal struggle between being ashamed and proud of his cultural heritage - all of this with the ominous backdrop of rising Palestinian murders.

Written and Directed by:

SAMER SAIFAN

Produced by:

DARREN ZENG

NATALIA HESS

SAMER SAIFAN

Director of Photography:

ANDREW LIN

ADAM BUDRON

NASSER FARIS

VERACITY BUTCHER

JADE ZIANE

LEYLA MODIRZADEH

EYAS ELKHATEEB

RON FALLICA

MARTIN PFEFFERKORN

Starring:

Ismail

Muhammad

Leila

Khalid

Farha

Young Boy

INTERVIEWER (ISAAC)

Shooter

ADAM BUDRON

NIDA FARHOUD

SABINA MASCHI

MAYA ALZABEN

DONG HUIMIN

ANDREW DAHREDDINE

AVA SEXTON

BLAKE HARDY

Co Producer:

Assistant Director:

Script Supervisor:

Production Designer:

Art Assistant:

Casting:

SFX Make Up:

Ismail Costume Designer:

HUGO BOUCARD

KELLY WANG

HIPPOLYTE CHARLUT

MARLO IRANI

VINCENT LE CHAFFOTEC

ROMAIN MENEGON

1st Assistant Camera:

2nd Assistant Camera:

Gaffer:

Key Grip:

Grip:

JENNIFER FANG

AMINA HAMAWY

Sound Mixer:

RIEL LEWIS

JONATHAN SILVERMAN

Boom Operator:

PROFESSOR DAVID ROSFELD

HAFEZ & ADALAH HAFEZ

NIDAL & AMANI BARAKAT

THAER & FATEN MAHMOUD

Special Thanks to:

JACOB MICHAEL DEAN

ROY GE

ANDREA NGUYEN

OLIVIA HART

KELLY WANG

Truck Driver:

Bird Wrangler:

Animal Safety Rep:

BTS Photos:

DONORS LIST

Thank you for the donations!

Thank you for the donations!

OSAMA & SALAM SAIFAN

HAFEZ & ADALAH HAFEZ

AMANI & ABDUL BARAKAT

THAER & FATEN MAHMOUD

Zeyad Elalami

Dr. Lirio Mahmoud

Dr. Said F Mahmoud

Nader Barakat

Nidal Barakat

Adel Barakat

Mazen Hafez

Anthony Davanzo

Blake hardy

Zeina Mahmoud

Zishan Mustafa

Ahmad Hussein

Rami Saifan

Yaseen Saifan

Ben Sessing

Tina Sarkar

Alexandra LeMosle

Francesco Lacopino

Vicki Hersh

Rami Elghandour

Shaker Eissa

Alice Ibrahim

Abby Garcia

Maya Al Zaben

Michel Shehadeh

Kunal Patrawala

Gabriela Polo

Malik Bader

Mirvat Yacoub

Abraham Saifan

Dana Saifan

Fadil Mahmoud

Farid F Salameh

Amal Charara

Luca Lodolo

Baraa Dalaq

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