COUSINS

Two cousins born in separate countries reunite in Brooklyn when a run-in with an ex turns the night even more chaotic. COUSINS explores cultural disconnect between family members and identity within oneself.

2023 | USA | Narrative | 13 minutes | Digital/DCP | English/Arabic

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY KARINA DANDASHI
PRODUCED BY AYAH

The lyrics in the nursery rhyme “Al Asfoura” sung by the two cousins asks, “Where is your house, little bird? I only see you flying.” Growing up in America, I often felt untethered from my roots in Syria. COUSINS explores cultural disconnect between family members and identity within oneself. What does it mean to belong somewhere, and how do we find our way back?

- Karina Dandashi

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PARTNERS

 

TEAM

Karina Dandashi


Writer / Director

Karina Dandashi is an Arab-American Muslim filmmaker born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She graduated from NYU in 2018 and has since worked in the independent film industry in development and production. Her films aim to explore nuances in identity through the intersection of family, religion, and culture in SWANA and Muslim communities in America.

Karina is a 2020 Creative Culture Fellow at The Jacob Burns Film Center and a 2021 Sundance Ignite Fellow. She was featured in Marie Claire’s inaugural Creators Issue as one of the “Top 21 Creators to Watch”. She is currently writing her first feature film.

Ayah


Producer

Ayah is a Palestinian-American producer based in Brooklyn, NY. She is a Film Independent Producing Lab and Rotterdam Lab fellow. Ayah founded 10 Mils Productions, through which she leverages her business background, the power of story, and her commitment to representation in the media to support storytellers from her communities.

Ayah co-produced DUNYA'S DAY, which won the short film Jury Award for International Fiction at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. She produced Karina Dandashi’s DRESS UP which premiered at the Oscar®-qualifying film festival Aspen Shortsfest in 2022 and is now available online on Short of the Week.

  • Starring
    Karina Dandashi
    Ribal Rayess
    Monica Sanborn
    Zayn Alexander

  • Written and Directed by Karina Dandashi
    Produced by Ayah
    Consulting Producers: Sean Weiner and Arno Mokros

    Director of Photography: Pete Quandt
    Production Designer: Julia Dipietro
    Editors: Sean Weiner and Karina Dandashi
    Additional Editor: Taylor Gianotas
    Sound Design: Sara Kaddouri
    Music Production and Music Engineer: Issa Shahin

    Assistant Director: Saleem Gondal
    Script Supervisor: Ramiel Petros
    Assistant Camera: Hannah Whisenant
    Assistant Camera: Sophia Feuer
    Gaffer: Asya Segalovich
    Key Grip: Marina Charriton
    Production Sound Recordist: Christian Guinanzaca
    Production Assistant: Samina Saifee
    Still Photography: Sam Ferguson

    Colorist: Marcy Robinson
    Online Editor: Alex Hartley
    DI Producer: Tiffany Gale
    DI Assist: Rebecca Conner
    DI Assist: Myahdellese Jones
    Post-Production Assistant: Sam Ferguson

    Bartender: Julia Dipietro
    Extras
    Laney Barber
    Samina Saifee
    Sam Ferguson
    Jen Elias
    Katelyn Rebelo
    Mariales Diaz

    Titles and Credits: Mariam Al Sairafi
    Poster Design by Magdalena Orellana

    Music
    “Radio Romance” by Mashrou’Leila

  • Sean Weiner
    Arno Mokros
    Caryn Coleman
    Karen Sloe Goodman
    Katelyn Rebelo
    Hannah Whisenant
    Ramiel Petros
    Sophia Feuer
    Rebecca Blandon
    Marcie LaCerte
    Drew Rodriguez
    Kervin Marseille
    Mike Towndrow
    Sontenish Myers
    Hannah Pearl Utt
    Ina Pira
    Opal Bennett
    Megan Costello
    Saidah Russell
    Nadia Dandashi
    Munir Atalla
    Tarek Turk
    Antonio Salume
    Rawan Ezzo
    Shawn Koid
    Sisi Yu
    Gulya Radjapova
    Maryam Mir
    Laney Barber
    Lena Elmeligy
    Two Saints Bar
    Noah Schamus
    Toby Brooks
    Jessica Lee
    Karim Ahmad
    Diego Braga
    Dylan Gee
    Justice Jamal Jones
    Dubheasa Ianipekun
    Lindiwe Makgalemele
    Maliyamungu Gift Muhande
    Natalie Murao
    Marilyn Oliva
    Juanita Umana

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SWEET REFUGE
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DRESS UP