On the morning of October 7th, Dana — a drifting young Palestinian-American woman — wakes up hungover and unaware that the world has just shifted. Still tangled in the haze of the previous night, she is startled by a familiar yet haunting presence: her father, Saleh Said, a legendary Palestinian activist.

About the Filmmaker:

Usman Ally is an actor, writer, and director based in Los Angeles. Born in Eswatini and of Pakistani heritage, he grew up across Africa before spending 25 years in the United States.

As an actor, Usman has originated stage roles that won an Obie, Pulitzer Prize, and Drama League Honors. He has appeared in Veep, On Becoming A God In Central Florida, Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events, and The Hunt.

As a writer-director, his short film Emigre/Americana was jury nominated at Palm Springs ShortFest 2025 and screened at the Academy Award-qualifying Tasveer Film Festival. His feature Mimi and Saad: An American Love Story received critical acclaim on the Black List and is in development.

As a "third culture" individual navigating identity across continents, Usman tells stories about those fighting to be truly seen—capturing how marginalized communities find joy, hope, and dignity in the face of adversity.