Darine Hotait is an Arab American writer, film director, and the founder of Cinephilia Productions— a New York-based film incubator championing African and Middle Eastern filmmakers. Darine has written and directed a dozen award-winning short films that can be seen on SundanceTV, AMC Networks, BBC Channel, ShortsTV, and at over a hundred international film festivals. She is the recipient of the prestigious New York Council on the Arts Artist Award, the New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, the AFAC Cinema Grant, a Goethe Award, and an EMMY Blu Ribbon nomination. Her work has received the support of institutions like The Independent Film Project, Cannes Scriptwriters’ Pavilion, and The Sundance Institute. Darine is a published author of science fiction short stories and stage plays. Her literary work has appeared in several publications in print and online. www.darinehotait.com