Darine Hotait is a writer and film director. Her work explores the politics of identity, Arab & African diaspora, social stigmas, and science fiction while employing visual components of magical realism. Her work is deeply influenced by her lucid dreaming practice.
Named on Disney's 2022 List of Directors on the Rise, Darine has written and directed a dozen award-winning narrative films that can be seen on Sundance Channel, The New Yorker, AMC Networks, BBC, and at numerous international film festivals.
Her latest film “TALLAHASSEE” premiered at the 10th Blackstar Film Festival. It was nominated for Best Narrative Short at the 22nd Woodstock Film Festival and received the Audience Award at Mizna Film Festival. Tallahassee was released exclusively on The New Yorker in January 2022.
She is the recipient of the New York Council on the Arts Artist Award (2020), the New York Foundation for the Arts Immigrant Artist Fellowship (2018), the Jerome Hill Finalist Award (2021), and the North Manhattan Arts Alliance Artist prize (2023).
Her work has received the support of The Sundance Institute, The Independent Film Project, Maison Des Scénaristes, the Jerome Foundation, The Royal Film Commission, the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, and the Ghetto Film Roster.
In 2021, Darine was awarded the 40 under 40 Arab America Foundation Award for her contributions to the Arab American art and culture and The FFC Award for her creative entrepreneurial achievements.
In 2010, Darine founded Cinephilia Productions — a development studio, talent incubator, and production Company, championing African, Arab, and Southwest Asian storytellers and filmmakers. Under her artistic and executive direction, Cinephilia provided film education to over 2000 filmmakers, developed more than 600 films projects through its development studio and labs, and launched several industry programs in partnership with international film festivals and organizations.
Darine is a published science fiction short story writer and playwright. Her literary work appeared in The Seventh Wave, Rusted Radishes, The Siren Literary Journal, Blindspot, Halcyon Berlin, Voix, and the Baryshnikov Arts Center Journal. Darine holds an MFA in screenwriting and film directing from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. She resides in New York City.
“Tallahassee makes an unconcealed nod to the loneliness and secrecy around mental illness, and the crushing solitude of lying. One of the triumphs of “Tallahassee” is its generosity. ”
“A powerful music video, directed by Darine Hotait, to bring a song [ONA] to life on screen, led by a virtually all-female creative team.”
“An incredibly accomplished individual who has worn so many hats as a writer, director, and entrepreneur.”
“In Tallahassee, the director shows that no one should ever feel alone, no matter how isolated one may see themselves. Tallahassee extends that clarity to audiences while bringing home the feeling of celebration. The casting is on point throughout this really ambitious narrative.”
“Darine Hotait a un Cinéma particulier, empreint de poésie toute en subtilité, et portrayant des femmes libres, fortes et indépendantes.”
“Hotait flirts with ideals that go beyond the norm of Arab-American culture. ”
“Hotait’s Like Salt is filmed with mastery to the point of reliving at times the film “After Hours” by Martin Scorsese.” ”
“Mark our word, we have a feeling, Hotait will be a driving force when it comes to the upcoming revival of Arab cinema. ”
“The story’s intensity and potency lies in Darine’s ability to sing cinematic brilliance in the interstices between scenes and to reveal more about the characters in their silence.”
“Darine Hotait is a very interesting, very educated person who has a clear opinion about film making.”
“Darine Hotait’s Like Salt is a masterful work signed with intelligence a precise sense of humor.”
“I SAY DUST is cleverly written, curiously directed & brilliantly performed. ”
“Privilégiant l’économie de l’action, la caméra de Darine Hotait prend son temps, saisit le mouvement dans son essence, dans vos sens qui se mettent en branle”
“A thoughtful film which packs a lot of ideas into a tight space, I Say Dust speaks well to the talents of those involved.”
PRESS
. The New Yorker | Film Review (January 2022)
. The Moveable Fest | Interview (August 2021)
. Femme Revamp Magazine | Interview
. MovieMaker Magazine, Los Angeles | Video Interview, March 2019
. Artist Portrait, Institut Du Monde Arabe | Interview, December 2018
. Femme Magazine | Feature Interview, October 2018
. Women Cinemakers | Feature Interview, August 2018
. On Orient | Interview, August 2018
. France 24 || TV Interview, July 2018
. We Are Moving Stories || Interview, July 2018
. Agenda Culturel || Interview by Nayla Rached "Je suis revenue au Liban à travers mon travail” (November 2017)
. Qahwa Project || Interview/Review (December 2016)
. Boston Palestine Film Festival || Interview (October 2016)
. Your Middle East || Interview by Victor Argo/Kurt Werren (October 2016)
. INC MAGAZINE || Interview by Christine Grové (September 2016)
. Eye For Film || Review by Jennie Kermode (Edinburgh, September 2016)
. AfterEllen || Interview by Erin Faith Wilson
(USA, July 2016)
. Aicha Qandisha || Interview Darine Hotait by Hassnae Bouazza (Netherlands, June 2016)
. LA TIMES || Interview with Darine Hotait by Trevell Anderson
(Los Angeles, June 2016)
. Agenda Culturel || ‘I Say Dust’, que la poésie soit cinéma (Lebanon, June 2016)
. We Are Moving Stories || Interview Darine Hotait by Carmela Baranowska (UK, May 2016)
. The Establishment || Arab American Filmmaker Darine Hotait Challenges Stereotypes Heads On by Jasmine Bager Cruz (USA, April 2016)
. Florence of Arabia || I SAY DUST: A Whimsical Tale of Lust, Longing and Identity by Zahra Hankir (London, March 2016)
. Diario Sirio Libanes || Hotait: It is not a question of gender by Jodor Jalit (Argentina, February 2016)
. Escribiendocine || Entrevista: Darine Hotait en el 5 LatinArab by Rolando Gallego (Argentina, December 2015)
. Kalimat magazine || I Say Dust by Wided Khadraoui (July 2015)
. Khaleejesque Magazine || The Pop Issue || featured in the Movers and Shakers section
. Bazaar Magazine || Cinephilia Productions at Nuqat: Interview with Darine Hotait
. ISSUU - F/I/M2/P Magazine || The Farewell Issue 11
. Mada Masr || A One Woman Attempt to Improve the Region's Screenwriting
. Agenda Culturel || A quoi ressemblera Beyrouth en 2050 ?
. Gate37 || The Arab Sci-Fi Comeback
. 33rd Square || Short Film looks at immortality in 2050 Beirut
. Your Middle East || Is This What Beirut Will Be Like in 2050?
. Voix Magazine || Orb: Bringing Immortality to Life
. Buro24/7 || Interview: Darine Hotait founder of Cinephilia
. Mashallah News || The Immortality Quest
. Al Rumi Magazine || أماني دامرجي تحاور دارين حطيط حول فيلم "أورب" لدارين حطيط
. Al Akhbar || دارين حطيط | بيروت ٢٠٥٠
. L'hebdo Magazine || Darine Hotait, fondatrice de Cinephilia Productions. «Nous cherchons des projets au-delà du classique»
. Executive Magazine || Investing in the Future of Arab Cinema
. Now Lebanon || Promoting films, telling stories
. Daily Star || New Laboratory for Film Writing
. La Cabina || ‘Beirut… Hide & Seek’ de Darine Hotait, sélection officielle de ‘La Cabina 2011’.
. Elle Orientale || Talent A Suivre
. Time Out Magazine || Close Up: Darine Hotait