IF BIRDS BELIEVED IN GOD is a 20 minute drama short film by Samer Saifan, made under New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts Undergraduate Film Thesis Program.

The film was shot over 6 days in New York City with a crew of over 40 people including both NYU students and industry professionals.

It is currently on a worldwide 2025 film festival run.

A black and white photo of three people in a room, with one person examining a gadget or device, another person standing and looking, and a third person sitting in the background. A framed landscape painting is on the wall.
A black and white photo of a person standing in a room with a decorative chandelier, framed pictures on the wall, embroidered curtains, and a table set with candles.
Black and white photo of a person with a scarf standing on a beach, looking at the ocean.
Man holding a paper coffee cup sitting at a table with a patterned tablecloth, near indoor plants and ornate curtains.
Man adjusting chandelier in a room with draped curtains, ornate chairs, and wall decor.
Black and white image of two people in a room. One person with curly hair sits at a table wearing a 'Guns N' Roses' t-shirt. The other person stands holding a lighting pole. The wall features framed pictures and Arabic calligraphy, while a window wit
Three people standing around a camera on a film set, indoors with ornate decor and a chandelier overhead.
Two men sitting at a dining table, engaged in conversation; a newspaper and a glass are on the table, decorative curtains in the background.
Black and white photo of two people sitting on a couch. One is a man in a dark shirt, and the other is a woman in a light-colored top and shorts. A laptop and a water bottle are on the side table.
Black and white photo of two individuals in an ornate dining room. A man holds lighting equipment next to a table set with a decorative cloth, candles, and a tea set. Frames with photos and wall art featuring Arabic script decorate the walls. A chand
Person wearing glasses and a "Paradise" t-shirt standing indoors beside a decorated tapestry with Arabic script.
Black and white image of a film crew setting up in a domestic interior, with a person looking through a camera on a tripod and several people in the background. A monitor displays a black and white image of hands over a bowl. Stairs with railing are
Black and white image of a person with long hair standing next to a large camera, looking upwards. In the background, there's a wooden cabinet displaying glassware and part of a chandelier is visible in the top right corner.
A man wearing a 'Pineapple Express' t-shirt appears thoughtful in a room decorated with assorted black-and-white prints on the wall. To the right, there is a birdcage with a bird inside, and a table with books and a small TV.
Black and white image of two people on a sandy beach; one sitting holding a rose, the other walking nearby. Ocean and cityscape in the background.
Three men smiling on a rooftop with a cityscape in the background. The man in the center wears a traditional checkered scarf.
Two men posing with a cityscape backdrop in black and white. One is wearing a white tank top and the other a 'Pineapple Express' T-shirt.
Person holding a white dove indoors, wearing a patterned scarf.
Black and white photo of a person lying on sand next to a film camera setup, wearing a coat and scarf.
Black and white photo of a filmmaker operating a camera, capturing a person in traditional Middle Eastern attire, with a cityscape in the background.
Two people sitting outdoors against a graffiti-covered wall, one on a box, the other on the ground, both appearing relaxed and casual. A shopping bag and snacks are on the sidewalk.
Group of people on a beach, one holding a camera, others holding documents, with a building in the background.
Three people on a beach with a film camera, in black and white.
Black and white image of a woman with long hair wearing a leather jacket standing outdoors in an urban setting with graffiti on the wall.
Two people pushing against a reflective surface on a beach
Black and white photo of a person sitting on a blanket at the beach with a bouquet nearby. There’s a box in the background and part of another person in the corner.
A black and white photo of four people on a beach, posing for the camera. The person on the left is wearing shorts and is holding a pillow or cushion. The person next to them has long hair and is smiling widely. The third person, a female, is smiling
Person smiling while holding a boom microphone in a graffiti-covered urban setting.
Black and white scene showing a man in a suit looking down, with audio equipment and a camera operator in the foreground. Paintings are on the wall behind.
Two people sitting on a couch, facing a camera, in a room with landscape paintings on the wall.
Three people indoors, one using a smartphone, another holding camera equipment, and a third looking to the side, in a black and white setting.
Film set scene with people and a camera in action, posters on the wall.
Black and white photo of a woman in a beanie holding a device and standing beside a clipboard with documents and a phone.
Person operating a film camera next to a man opening a box; landscape painting in background.
Three people standing together on a beach with waves in the background, smiling at the camera. The photo is in black and white.
A group of people on a sandy beach with film equipment, including a camera on a tripod and reflectors. In the background, there are buildings and a cloudy sky. Some team members are standing, while others are seated, engaged in a film production proj
Four men posing closely together for a group photo on a rooftop with a cityscape in the background; one man wears a shirt with "Pineapple Express" text.
Black and white photo of a man holding a wooden board, standing in front of a graffiti-covered wall.
Black and white photo of a person holding a bouquet of roses, standing outdoors, dressed casually.
Three people on a beach in black and white, with one person in the foreground wearing a hoodie, looking towards the camera, and the other two facing the ocean.
Black and white image of two men, one holding a notebook, standing under a light, with a microphone in the foreground.
Person wearing a patterned scarf sitting on a sandy beach, smiling at the camera, with structures and overcast sky in the background.
Three women looking at a phone in a graffiti-covered urban setting at night, with two wearing leather jackets and one in a hijab.
Two people standing in front of a graffiti-covered wall, wearing winter clothing. The image is in black and white.
Text "Photos by Kelly Wang" on black background
Monochrome scene of a film crew working at night on a city street with equipment and lighting.

  • Samer Saifan

    WRITER - DIRECTOR - EXECUTIVE PRODUCER

  • A group of people standing on a beach with a large film camera in the foreground. The sky is overcast and the ocean is visible in the background. The image is in black and white.

    ANDREW LIN

    DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Black and white portrait of a person in front of a metal structure with visible rivets, looking to the side.

    DARREN ZENG

    PRODUCER

  • Black and white photo of a person sitting on a case, wearing a fur coat and glasses, in front of a graffiti wall.

    NATALIA HESS

    PRODUCER

  • Black and white image of a woman wearing a beanie and hoodie, holding a flashlight and standing next to a table with papers and a smartphone.

    SABINA MASCHI

    SCRIPT SUPERVISOR

  • Black and white portrait of a woman with curly hair sitting outdoors, wearing a dark button-up shirt and jeans, with trees in the background.

    NIDA FARHOUD

    ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - UNIT PRODUCTION MANAGER

  • Black and white photo of a person sitting by a window with sheer curtains.

    MARLO IRANI

    GAFFER

  • Black and white photo of people on a film set, including a person operating a camera, others in the background, and a monitor displaying a close-up shot.

    HUGO BOUCARD

    1st ASSISTANT CAMERA

  • Black and white photo of a woman sitting in an indoor setting with a window and table nearby.

    KELLY WANG

    2nd ASSISTANT CAMERA - BTS PHOTOGRAPHER

  • Black and white photo of a person on a beach, leaning on a large screen or reflector, looking contemplative. In the background, there are buildings along the coastline, waves, and a cloudy sky.

    VINCENT LE CHAFFOTEC

    KEY GRIP

  • Black and white image of a man in a black shirt standing with arms crossed, looking to the left. Another person is operating a camera on a tripod. The room has a decorative curtain and plants.

    ROMAIN MENEGON

    GRIP

  • Black and white photo of a person wearing a leather jacket, standing in front of a graffiti-covered wall.

    MAYA ALZABEN

    PRODUCTION DESIGNER

  • Black-and-white photo of a room with people, framed photos, and a wall hanging with Arabic script.

    JENNIFER FANG

    SOUND MIXER

  • Smiling person wearing headphones next to a microphone on a stand, in a graffiti-covered urban setting.

    AMINA HAMAWY

    SOUND MIXER - BOOM OPERATOR

  • Black and white portrait of a thoughtful person gazing to the side, resting their chin on their hand.

    JONATHAN SILVERMAN

    BOOM OPERATOR

  • RIEL LEWIS

    BOOM OPERATOR

  • Black and white portrait of a man with curly hair, wearing glasses and a textured jacket.

    ANDREW DAHREDDINE

    CASTING

  • Black and white photo of a person sitting on a sidewalk with graffiti behind them, holding a lollipop. There is a bag with snacks and a partially visible person next to them.

    AVA SEXTON

    MAKEUP SFX