Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldaña has boarded the narrative short It’s Complicated as an executive producer ahead of its world premiere at the HollyShorts Film Festival in August.
Written, produced by and starring Iman Karram, It’s Complicated follows Yara, a Palestinian-American screenwriter in Los Angeles, whose online Arabic lessons with Hana (Dina Shuhaiber), a poet and teacher living in Gaza, blossom into a profound friendship built on shared ambition, humor, and sisterhood. “When war suddenly tears them apart, Yara must confront grief, diasporic guilt, and the responsibility of using her voice to ensure Hana’s story is not forgotten,” reads a plot synopsis.
The film is directed by Darine Hotait and produced by Karram, Alana Duqum, Zoe Marie Jimenez, and Matt Van Tine, with Kais Karram and Zane Karram of Malibu Mutt Studios among the producing team. Eli Zavala of Splinter Pictures also serves as an executive producer.
“Iman has made a deeply personal film about identity, grief, sisterhood, and the responsibility artists feel to carry the stories of their communities forward,” said Saldaña, who won an Oscar in 2025 for her performance in Emilia Perez. “I was moved by the tenderness of the relationship at the center of the film and by Iman’s commitment to telling a story rooted in Palestinian womanhood with honesty, humor, and heart. I’m proud to support her voice and the team behind It’s Complicated as the film begins its festival journey.”
Karam said the project is “deeply personal.” She continued: “It was inspired by a real relationship with my Arabic tutor that profoundly reshaped my understanding of identity and how I want to use my voice as an artist… Growing up in the diaspora, it can sometimes feel like you are disconnected from your roots, or even like an imposter within your own community.”
“What began as online Arabic lessons with Hana grew into a friendship and a Palestinian sisterhood that made me feel truly seen from the other side of the world. She welcomed me into a culture I didn’t grow up experiencing firsthand, but one that has always been an integral part of who I am. She made me feel enough, exactly as I am, and gave me the courage to embrace my voice, stand in my values, and tell the stories that are important to me,” she added.
Hotait’s film marks the latest collaboration between emerging Palestinian filmmakers and internationally acclaimed talent, with Saldaña lending her support as the project prepares to make its debut on the festival circuit.
It’s Complicated will have its world premiere at the 22nd HollyShorts Film Festival, taking place Aug. 13–23, 2026, in Los Angeles. The Oscar-qualifying festival will showcase more than 400 short films from around the world.
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