Who Is She

Personal information

Filmmaker, Producer
Niam Itani

What I have done for Lebanon

Through my work as a screenwriter and filmmaker I try to serve Lebanon in two ways: The first is to tell stories from and about Lebanon, because I 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. 

Contact information / Private

Istanbul
Turkey

Contact information / Work

Placeless Films
Production, Story and Script Consulting
Beirut
Lebanon

Social Media

Education

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.

Areas of expertise

Expertise: 
  • Production (Film/TV)
  • Story and Script Consulting
  • Independent Film Making and Financing
  • Film and Scriptwriting Education
Languages: 
  • Arabic
  • English
  • French
  • Spanish

Work history

Jobs: 
  • 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).

Honorary office and memberships

  • Jury member, 2014-present, San Francisco International Ocean Film Festival
  • Associate Director of the Refugee Film Program at the Veteran, Immigrant and Refugee Trauma Institute of Sacramento, 2014-2015
  • Member, LAU-Alumni Association - Doha Chapter, 2006-2010.

Productions

Publications highlights: 
  • 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.
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 and Distinctions

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