Director: Ashtar Muallem
Feature | Documentary | Development

Synopsis:
Ashtar Muallem films the final chapter of her parents’ theatre in Ramallah, one of the few spaces of creativity and freedom for Palestinian youth. As occupation erases identity and censors narratives, the film documents fragile beauty, revealing the struggle to create under occupation and affirm culture as resistance.

Producer: Jiries Copti
Looking for: Broadcasters, Creative Advice, Funds, Distributors, Pre-Sales
Budget: $350,000
Contact: ashtar.production@gmail.com / jiries@27films.com / lucie.rego@hutongproductions.com

Ashtar Muallem is a Jerusalemite multidisciplinary artist blending circus, dance, and theatre. A professional performer for the past 16 years and graduate of the National Center of Circus Arts in France. Ashtar shifted to filmmaking in 2020. Her debut film, Land of Denied Rituals, was supported by AFAC in 2025. A 2025 SawaSawa laureate and Meditalent LabDoc resident, today she is mentored by Rithy Panh through the Doha Film Institute, developing her first feature documentary, Condemned to Dream.

Jiries Copti is the co-founder of Twenty Seven Films, a creative hub dedicated to amplifying Palestinian narratives and fostering transnational cinematic collaboration. With an academic background in Organizational Behavior and over a decade of experience in the film industry, he has built a diverse portfolio of more than 30 projects spanning feature films, documentaries, short films, and television series. Working as a producer and line producer, Jiries has collaborated with some of the most distinctive and emerging voices in contemporary Arab and European cinema. His practice bridges creative development and production strategy, with a strong focus on cross-border collaboration and storytelling rooted in social and political contexts. His projects have received international recognition and have screened at major film festivals including Venice, Berlin, Locarno, Toronto, Karlovy Vary, and Marrakech, among others. Through his work, Jiries continues to support bold cinematic voices and contribute to a dynamic, globally connected film landscape.