Niam Itani
Previous Professions
- Commissioning & Acquisitions Producer, TRT World, 2017 - Present.
- Co-Founder & Executive Producer, 2010- Present, Placeless Films llc.
- Producer, 2005-2010, Al-Jazeera Satellite Channel.
- Member and Co-Host, 2004-2017, The D-Word (the largest online forum for international documentary professionals).
Field(s) of Expertise
Production (Film/TV)
Story and Script Consulting
Independent Film Making and Financing
Film and Scriptwriting Education
Publications
- Itani, N. (Producer and Director). (2015). Twice upon a time. [Documentary]. Beirut: Placeless Films llc. and Al-Jazeera Documentary Channel.
- Itani, N. (Screenwriter and Director). (2010). Super. Full. [Film]. Doha: Placeless Films llc. and the Doha Film Institute.
- Itani, N. (Co-Producer). (2014). Transit game. [Film]. Beirut: Sepasi Films and Placeless Films llc.
Education
- Master of Fine Arts degree (MFA), Screenwriting and Film Studies, 2008-2010, Hollins University, Virginia, United States of America.
- Master's degree, Education, 2001-2005, Lebanese American University, Lebanon.
- Bachelor's degree, Communication Arts (Radio/TV/Film), 1997-2000, Lebanese American University, Lebanon.
Degrees:
Bachelor's, Master's
Exhibitions, Lectures & Performances
- Speaker at a children and family services center during a workshop for professionals working with refugees relocating to California from around the globe, Walnut Creek, California, 2013
- Trainer at the workshop entitled "harrer, harrer" organized by the Doha Film Institute, Beirut, 2011.
Awards
- Winner, “Best Feature Documentary” Award at the Lebanese Film Festival for the film, “Twice Upon a Time”, 2016.
- Winner, Best Short Film Award for the movie entitled "Transit Game" at the Arab Film Festival in San Francisco, 2014.
- Winner, Best Screenplay Award for the short screenplay entitled "Super.Full" at the Zanzibar Screenwriting Workshop organized by MAISHA and the Doha Film Institute, Tanzania, 2010.
- Winner, Jury Commendation for the short film entitled "Super.Full" at the Foster Film Festival, Australia, 2012.
- Finalist for the film entitled "Super.Full" at "Your Film Festival" organized by Google and YouTube, Sir Ridley Scott and Michael Fassbender.
- Winner, production grant for the screenplay of "Shadow of a Man" from the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC), 2012.
- Winner, development grant for the screenplay of "Shadow of a Man" from the Doha Film Institute, 2011.
Community Involvement
Through her work as a screenwriter and filmmaker she tries to serve Lebanon in two ways: The first is to tell stories from and about Lebanon, because she believe that if we don't tell our own stories, no one else will do that for us. The second way is to make Lebanon visible as a country at film festivals and events worldwide.