What's it about?

A coming of age drama set in a conservative Muslim society where a young girl is forced to confront her feelings about entering womanhood when she gets her first period, which she tries to hide to avoid wearing the face cover (niqab).

We’re happy to say that this project is sponsored by the reputable 501(c)3 Non-Profit “From The Heart Productions,”  which means all contributions are tax deductible. 

"From the Heart Productions, Inc. is honored to provide fiscal sponsorship for the film Lollipop. We carefully select the films we sponsor, and believe that this project will make a positive contribution to society and to the field of filmmaking."

We have been partially funded by one of the most important funds in the Middle East, Enjaaz, part of the Dubai Film Festival.

We were also supported by the Industry Lab at the New York Film Academy that's been recently listed as one of the Stellar Film Academies by Variety.

We believe this comes as a result of just how much our cast and crew believe in this story and in the purpose it aims to fulfill. We’ve gathered a very gifted and passionate team that shows how talent and diversity can go perfectly hand-in-hand – we invite you to learn more about them in the TEAM section. 

Personally, I must say that this project is very close to my heart because of its impactful message – I believe it can touch a lot of people and that what it has to say cannot continue being unheard.

That is actually the spirit of my filmmaking work: creating thought-provoking, engaging stories that can have a positive impact on our society by raising awareness about important social issues.

Where's all the money going?

This amount is going to post production as we need a minimum of $10,000 to finish the film. This includes editing, music, sound design, color correction, and VFX, as well as hardware and crowdfunding fees.

Stretch Goals: If we can raise up to $25,000, it will help us pay all the people who worked for free or for low pay while awaiting their deferred payments. It will also help us with all the transfers, deliverables, and marketing and festival fees.

If you contribute:

You will get one of our unique perks but, most importantly, you will be helping to nurture the emerging Saudi presence in the world of cinema. Saudi filmmakers struggle to find opportunities because Saudi Arabia doesn't have a film industry and, therefore, doesn't provide many opportunities for Saudi talent. So, we're very grateful for any contribution you're able to make.

Who are you?

I'm Hanaa Saleh Alfassi, a Saudi Filmmaker. I've been producing, writing, and directing different forms of film and video content for over a decade now. This has culminated in numerous festival selections and awards, including a dark comedy, The Last Sohour, which has garnered over 20 official selections and 2 awards, two short films, Haweya (aka ID) and Hadaf (aka Goal), that were aired on the renowned MBC TV and were watched by millions of viewers. I'm also alumni of the notable Rawi Screenwriters Lab 2017, which ran in collaboration with Sundance Institute for 11 years.

Why does this project matter?

Obviously, this project matters because of the poignant story, but also because of my amazing cast and crew, and it's very important to me that I'm able to fully compensate my team for all of their hard work. I couldn't have done this without them, and even though this is a short film, it's a real job. Projects like this matter not only because it creates opportunities for women and minorities in the entertainment industry, but also because it offers another female voice telling a female-driven story in a male-dominated industry. In bringing the story of a Saudi, Muslim, teenage girl to the screen, we have provided acting and production opportunities for our diverse cast and crew. We’re serious about diversity, in front of the camera and behind it.

CAST

Ayman Samman is an American Actor born in Egypt. Ayman can speak several Arabic dialects fluently and his first major film role was in the Clint Eastwood's Oscar nominated blockbuster film American Sniper (2014), where he shared the memorable dinner scene with Bradley Cooper. In addition to movie appearances, he made a guest star appearance in the television hit Blindspot (2015), NCIS: Los Angeles (2015), Satisfaction (2015) and Pretty Little Liars (2014), Madam Secretary (2017), Scandal (2017) and  recently shot a Saudi feature Shoot (2017).

Malak Radwan is a Saudi actress who has worked on many short films and, at the same time, she is studying animation in the city of angels.

Sarah Alhazmi is a Saudi comic book artist, a Fulbright scholar, and an acting enthusiast.  Sarah is fascinated by colors, crazy about coffee, and loves nature. Her favorite animal is the koala, so she obviously enjoys living in such a close proximity to the San Diego Zoo. Sarah is making her acting debut in Lollipop.

CREW

Alex Lampsos, our Canadian Producer, launched his career by landing a rewarding venture at the prestigious Toronto International Film Festival for a two-festival run. Since his move to LA in 2013, Alex produced a total of ten films resulting in over 20 festival selections and awards.

Hanaa Saleh Alfassi, our Saudi film director, has been involved in the film industry since 2003 and over the years, has made several winning short films. The most recent one was officially selected in more than 17 festivals and counting. She has had the pleasure of working with reputable companies, including Warner Brothers Summer Records, MBC, Vizyon, Luxury Events, KAUST, and a multitude of others. Furthermore, two of her short films were aired on the renowned Middle Eastern TV channel, MBC, and has been watched by millions of viewers.

Konstantin Frolov, our Russian Cinematographer, has 48 short films, documentaries, and 2 feature films under his belt, aside from the music videos and commercials he's shot. One recent commercial was for the BMW.

Shannon Emigh, our American co-writer and film editor with 8+ years of experience, has worked on several winning short films and more than a 1000 short-form videos for top networks and studios like NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS, Universal, Paramount, Disney, Warner Brothers, Lionsgate, etc.

Ahmed Baageel is our talented Saudi Production designer, and he's also an actor and host with a number of successful shows and shorts in Saudi Arabia. He's currently studying filmmaking at Woodbury University in Los Angeles.

Adriana Ledesma is our Mexican super assistant director. She's also directed more than 17 short films, co-directed a feature, and is currently preparing for a new one.

Abdallah Hamed, our Saudi production manager, was a member of "khawater Aldalam," a successful breakdance and hip hop Saudi team, and not to mention, he has a successful track record in producing in Saudi Arabia.

Albandari Hakeem is a talented Saudi set decorator and wardrobe stylist with an MFA in filmmaking and production.

Every dollar goes towards making this movie better and giving it a higher chance at receiving top tier film festival nominations and awards.

Sharing this campaign with people you might think are interested in funding and supporting these kinds of films is invaluable. 

And that's all there is to it.