Bio
Lives & works in Los Angeles, California.
Hena's culturally diverse background and their travels to different countries have granted their unique, well-rounded perspective of life that is prevalent throughout many of their work. Hena first learned filmmaking at the Academy of Cinema Arts and Technology under the tutelage of the lauded Egyptian writer and director Ra'afat Almihi in 2003. They received their B.F.A. in Mass Communication & Media Studies from Ain Shams University in Egypt in 2005 and their M.A. in Film & Media Production from New York Film Academy, Los Angeles campus 2015. From a very young age, Hena has been creatively inclined, which ultimately led them down the path of becoming an award-winning Writer and Director with over a decade of expertise. They wrote, directed and produced several short films, resulting in numerous festival selections and awards, including a Dark comedy The Last Sohour with over 25+ official selections and 2 awards, a coming of age drama "Lollipop" Funded by ENJAAZ, a Dubai Film Market Initiative 2016, it was an Official Selection at many film festivals including Dubai International Film Festival. Furthermore, two of their short films Haweya aka ID, and Hadaf aka Goal were aired on the renowned MBC TV and were watched by millions of viewers. Hena's an alumna of the renowned Rawi Screenwriters Lab 2017 who ran in collaboration with the Sundance Institute for 11 years. Hena is also an alumna of Med Film Factory at the Royal Film Commission in Jordan. Hena collaborated with the prominent singer Abdulrahman Mohammed to make his music video "Resemblance" which reached more than 11 million views on YouTube, Additionally, Hena is adept in Cinematography, they DP'd Mesh'al Aljasser short film "Male Guardian's dinner" that surpassed 2 million views. Hena also produced a feature documentary "KSA in their eyes", that was aired on the famous Middle-Eastern TV network, Aljazeera Documentary. Over the years, Hena has had the pleasure of working with reputable companies, including Warner Brothers Summer Records, Scenario Creative Productions, Uber Global, Proctor&Gamble Pantene, Vizyon, Luxury Events, KAUST, and a multitude of others. Taking their creativity outside of filmmaking, Hena published an Arabic poetry book entitled, "BleeP - Near Death Vigilance Experience" in 2009.
Education
2015
MA in Film&Media Production
New York Film Academy, Los Angeles,USA.
2005
BFA in Mass Communication
Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Publications
Screenings &
Festivals Official Selections
Grants & Awards
2024
Pitch TV Pilot - Red Sea SeriesLab
2023
Short Film Production Grant Winner
2023
Best TV pilot Red Sea Series Lab
2022
Ghazi AlQusaibi Award-Best Feature Screenplay based on a Saudi novel.
Alumna 2016
in collaboration with Sundance Institute - Feature Screenplay
Alumna 2016
Royal Film Commission In Jordan - Feature Film
2016
Production Fund
Enjaaz - Image Nation - Short fILM
2018
Production Fund
Qomrah.TV - Animated Short
2016
Saudi Film Festival
Honorable Mention - Short Film
2016
12th Action On Film
Winner Outstanding Cast Performance
2010
California Film Awards
Silver Award Best Short
2010
American Int. Film Festival
Best Experimental
Abdulrahman Sandokji
COO, Creative Director, Founder, Vizyon | Creative Media
Amazing screenwriter and creative thinker. Passionate and professional filmmaker. Highly recommended.
Khalil Nabelsi
TV Director and Producer, Al Jazeera
I have worked with Hena throughout the making of the documentary film, KSA In Their Eyes. Her role
for the film was a Producer. Hena demonstrated professionalism, integrity, and commitment to her work at all times when encountering difficulties and challenging situations in the making and producing of the film. Hena is very dedicated and passionate about her work. She is determined to achieve positive results and thrives working in a collaborative team environment. I wish to work with Hena again in the near future.
TESTIMONIALS
Aicha Alkusayar
Head Writer Creative Scenario
MBC Group
I have worked with Hena on Three different TV projects, and have learned so much from observing her at work. Hena is inspirational. She simplifies matters and makes people around her feel that things are possible and achievable. She is very observant of personality types around her, and understanding of how best to approach different team members. I've seen how especially tactful she is when dealing with the creatives (e.g. writers) in complex and timely projects. She knows how to manage the project, meet the deadlines, and handle various crises, without transferring unnecessary pressures onto the creatives. On the larger social level, Hena a connector. She has a great, easy-going personality that keeps her in the know of new projects, ideas, and trends. She helps people who have never met to connect, discuss ideas, and collaborate. She has a culturally diverse background which gives her a unique edge in the way she views and translates the world.
Muath Khlifawi
Co-founder - Public Relations & Sponsorship Manager, Luxury Events
We hired Hena as a producer and director for one of our grand events in Jeddah. She was responsible for all
the videography work as well as producing a 10-minute documentary film. All deliverables were on time and met expectations. On to of that, Hanna was very accommodating to additional requests and sudden changes.
Throughout, she was pleasant to work with!
Robert Borneman
Executive Producer SnapShot Pictures
Hena is a reliable and detail oriented individual who helped shape our full feature film project "SNAPSHOT" in many positive ways. I highly recommend you work with her if you have the opportunity.