CAREER HIGHLIGHT(S):
A seasoned producer, Sawsan became a partner in Louverture Films — the independent US-based production company founded by Joslyn Barnes and actor Danny Glover — in 2019. At Cocoon, she was involved in the production of Annemarie Jacir’s WAJIB and WHEN I SAW YOU, SALT OF THIS SEA; Hany Abu-Assad’s THE IDOL and HUDA’S SALON; and the documentary AQUARELA by Victor Kossakovsky, which premiered at Venice and was Academy-shortlisted in 2019.
What's the best advice you have ever been given - or given to others?
Persistence and tenacity pay. Always try hard and believe it can happen.
What has been your biggest setback/hurdle?
When you let personal circumstances affect work and lose confidence in your judgment.
What is the biggest misunderstanding about the Arab World and/or its entertainment industry?
The Western World portrays us as one people with one way of life and way of thinking, while we have so many divergent ways of thinking, some conservative and some extremely liberal, and we want to be able to tell the narratives of all.
What will have the greatest game-changing effect on Arab cinema?
To have less interference from Arab government censorship boards and to have a Hollywood of our own, where we can create and tell our stories, not be typecast as the Western World sees us, and ensure our films find worldwide distribution.
How do you recognize real talent?
Sometimes, you see raw talent, but you recognize that it might need some nurturing, training, or a bit of work. That can apply to actors, writers, and directors, but the creative foundation has to be there, and it is something that moves you, and that's how you see it.
