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:
