IF BIRDS BELIEVED IN GOD

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY

SAMER SAIFAN

Political - Psychological Drama Short Film (2025)

MADE IN ASSOCIATION WITH NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS

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 his grandfather’s 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:

NATALIA HESS

DARREN ZENG

SAMER SAIFAN

Director of Photography:

ANDREW LIN

Starring:

ADAM BUDRON

NASSER FARIS

VERACITY BUTCHER

JADE ZIANE

LEYLA MODIRZADEH

EYAS ELKHATEEB

RON FALLICA

Ismail

Muhammad

Leila

Khalid

Farha

Young Boy

INTERVIEWER

Assistant Director:

Co Producer:

Script Supervisor:

Production Designer:

Art Assistant:

Casting:

SFX Make Up:

Ismail Costume Designer:

NIDA FARHOUD

ADAM BUDRON

SABINA MASCHI

MAYA ALZABEN

DONG HUIMIN

ANDREW DAHREDDINE

AVA SEXTON

BLAKE HARDY

1st Assistant Camera:

2nd Assistant Camera:

Gaffer:

Key Grip:

Grip:

HUGO BOUCARD

KELLY WANG

HIPPOLYTE CHARLUT

MARLO IRANI

VINCENT LE CHAFFOTEC

ROMAIN MENEGON

CANKAT GUENEL

JEFFERSON ROSA

OTAR BREGVADZE

SAMER SAIFAN

Original Music Score:

Color:

Re-Recording Mixer:

Editor:

JENNIFER FANG

AMINA HAMAWY

Sound Mixer:

RIEL LEWIS

JONATHAN SILVERMAN

Boom Operator:

JACOB MICHAEL DEAN

ROY GE

ANDREA NGUYEN

OLIVIA HART

KELLY WANG

Truck Drivers:

Bird Wrangler:

Animal Safety Rep:

BTS Photos:

DAVID ROSFELD

HAFEZ & ADALAH HAFEZ

NIDAL & AMANI BARAKAT

Special Thanks to: