Table of Contents
It's Complicated tells the story of Yara, a Palestinian-American screenwriter in Los Angeles whose online Arabic lessons with Hana, a poet and teacher living in Gaza, blossom into a profound friendship rooted in shared ambition, humor, and sisterhood. When war suddenly tears them apart, Yara is left to navigate grief, diasporic guilt, and the impossible distance between witness and action.
For producer Alana Duqum β an actress, producer, and singer-songwriter, and the founder of Golden Guardian Productions β the film is intensely personal. She saw herself in Yara's life between cultures, and built the film with her own family and community woven into nearly every frame.
Key Takeaways
- A drama that makes room for humor, warmth, and everyday joy, insisting its characters be seen as whole people rather than headlines.
- Authenticity down to the smallest detail: family scarves in the production design, a Gaza-specific dish, and Duqum's own mother doing hair and makeup.
- A full-circle HollyShorts premiere, at an Academy Award-qualifying festival, from a filmmaker who found her collaborators in that same community.
A conversation with Alana Duqum about heritage, collaboration, and the ordinary moments that carry a film.
Interview
What drew you to make this film, and why this story, why now?
As an Arab American working in Hollywood, I saw a lot of myself in Yara. Like her, I've experienced the feeling of living between cultures and wanting to honor where I come from while building a career in this industry. Watching people in the diaspora navigate grief, distance, and the feeling of helplessness when loved ones are experiencing unimaginable hardship made this story feel deeply personal.
Beyond that, It's Complicated is ultimately a story about sisterhood, identity, diaspora, and the universal search for belonging. We wanted to tell a story that humanizes the people behind the headlines and reminds audiences that every headline represents real lives, relationships, and dreams. At its heart, this film is about connection, resilience, and the responsibility we have to bear witness to one another's humanity.
What surprised you most about the filmmaking process, including any moment on set that changed how you saw the story?
There were so many moments that surprised me, but the ones that stayed with me most were often the quietest. Watching the scenes between Yara and her uncle, played by Nasser Faris, brought so much warmth, humor, and familiarity to life. Their dynamic reminded me of my own family and the love that exists beneath the teasing and laughter.
I also loved the moments between Yara and Hana during their Arabic lessons, when they talked about girlhood, family, and the little conversations so many of us have growing up β what we wear, the expectations placed on us, and the way we laugh through it all. Those scenes captured a side of our culture that is joyful, intimate, and deeply human. It reminded me that some of the most powerful storytelling isn't found in the biggest moments, but in the ordinary ones that allow audiences to recognize themselves in someone else's life.
What moment in the film feels most like you, or like something only you could have made?
It's hard to choose just one, because I see a part of myself throughout the film. As a producer, I was involved in every stage of bringing this world to life, and so many details carry personal meaning. Scarves that belonged to my own family are woven into the production design. I even cooked the traditional Arabic dish Yara prepares for her uncle, because authenticity mattered to us in every frame.
What made the experience especially meaningful was how much of my own community became part of the film. My mom did the hair and makeup, bringing her own artistry and care to the project. A close friend who owns an Arabic restaurant generously donated meals to support the production. Even the smallest details mattered β while the crew was filming emotional close-ups in New York, we were running down the street searching for the perfect pistachio ice cream, because we wanted every element to feel authentic. What feels most like me isn't one particular scene; it's knowing that my family's history, our traditions, and my community are woven throughout the film.
What was the hardest creative decision you made while making the film?
One of the hardest creative challenges was making sure every decision felt authentic to the story we wanted to tell. Because the film is rooted in real experiences, every line of dialogue and every cultural detail carried weight. Iman and I spent a great deal of time discussing those choices, always asking ourselves what felt the most honest.
That same care extended beyond the script. Even something as simple as the Palestinian dish Yara prepares became an important conversation. We ultimately chose a dish that reflects Gaza specifically, honoring Hana's roots and reinforcing the authenticity of her world. Every decision carries meaning, and together those choices are what make a story feel authentic.
What tool, technique, resource, collaborator, or mindset shift helped most during production?
More than any one tool or technique, it was the mindset of collaboration that made the biggest difference. Every single person who worked on this film played an important role in bringing it to life, and I truly believe the story is stronger because of each of their contributions. Filmmaking is one of the most collaborative art forms, and remaining open, respectful, and willing to listen throughout the process is essential.
It also reinforced the importance of perseverance. There are countless moving parts in making a film, and obstacles are inevitable. Whenever we were met with a "no," we found another way forward. I was deeply committed to fighting for this film and for our team. That shared determination is what carried us through and ultimately made this film possible.
What does it mean to have your film selected for HollyShorts, one of the world's premier short film festivals?
Being selected for HollyShorts is incredibly special because it feels like home. I've been attending the festival for years, connecting with filmmakers, discovering incredible stories, and building lasting relationships within this community. In many ways, this film was born because of those connections. Someone I met through HollyShorts years ago became part of the journey that ultimately led to It's Complicated, which makes premiering here feel especially meaningful.
HollyShorts has always been more than a festival to me. It's a place where artists champion one another, where conversations turn into collaborations. To now be sharing our film with this community is an incredible full circle moment, and I can't imagine a more meaningful place for it to begin its festival journey.
What do you hope audiences take away from this film?
I hope audiences leave the film continuing the conversations it begins. While It's Complicated is rooted in a specific experience, its themes are universal β friendship, family, identity, belonging, grief, resilience, and what it means to stay connected to the people we love across impossible distances.
More than anything, I hope the film reminds people of our shared humanity. Behind every headline are real people with dreams, families, friendships, and lives that deserve to be seen. If audiences walk away feeling a little more empathy, a little more curiosity, or a deeper connection to someone whose experience may be different from their own, then I think we've accomplished what we set out to do.
Main Cast & Crew
- Executive Producer: Zoe SaldaΓ±a
- Director / Writer / Producer: Darine Hotait
- Writer: Iman Karram
- Producers: Alana Duqum, Zoe Marie Jimenez
- Cast: Iman Karram, Dina Shuhaiber, AJ Mendez, Charlie Carrick, Nasser Faris
- Director of Photography: Liz Charky
- Editors: Hind Shoufani, Matt Van Tine
- Original Music: Tarek Yamani
Filmmaker Opportunities
π Fund your next project with fiscal sponsorship
Have a project in the works? As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the Cinematography for Actors Institute can accept tax-deductible donations on your film's behalf β a door-opener for grants, foundations, and supporters who want to back your work. We've serviced over 100 projects to date and helped route over $800,000 in funding to filmmakers. Explore fiscal sponsorship β You can also catch our 3rd annual financing panel at HollyShorts.
π¬ Grant deadlines and festival opportunities, straight to your inbox
The CFA newsletter rounds up grants, festival calls, and community news for independent filmmakers β the kind of opportunities that are easy to miss and painful to miss. Join the newsletter β
π¬ Focus on the creative β we'll help with the logistics
Production Management, CFA's newest member program, launches this November: production insurance and workers' comp, payroll, film permits, gear rental coordination, SAG-AFTRA compliance, contract drafting, production consulting, and crew recommendations β handled by a team of working filmmakers, Γ la carte or all in, in partnership with Creative Access Group. It's waitlist-only until launch. Join the waitlist β
League of Filmmakers is published by our parent organization, the Cinematography for Actors Institute β a 501(c)(3) dedicated to education, community, and capital for underrepresented filmmakers and actors. Learn more about CFA β
