Public Programs And Events

The Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility is pleased to invite you to the film screening "Like Salt" and "Abroad" as part of our Film Series. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the directors Zayn Alexander and Darine Hotait, moderated by Zolberg Fellows Sara Romero, Global Mental Health Posdoctoral Research Fellow, and Mónica Salmón Gómez, Doctoral Student in the Sociology Department.

"Abroad"

Synopsis - Jad and Rania, a Lebanese immigrant couple living in New York, struggle to achieve their shared dream of breaking into the entertainment industry due, in part, to the typecasting of Middle-Eastern actors. The combined pressures of juggling multiple day jobs and living so far from home begin to eat away at Jad, while Rania relishes the struggle. These differences are brought to light on the day that Jad proposes to Rania, and their relationship is put to a test as it becomes clear that their time abroad has left them yearning for different things.

Filmmaker - Zayn Alexander is a New York-based actor and director of Lebanese origin. Alexander began his career upon moving to New York City in 2010. He made his film debut in the 2012 drama “The Defector”. Alexander’s directorial debut, “Abroad”, made its world premiere at 33rd Santa Barbara International Film Festival. In October of 2018, Alexander directed, and starred in the film “Manara”. Manara debuted at the 76th Venice Film Festival in the Giornate degli Autori section (Venice Days). In addition to his film career, Alexander has a Master of Arts degree in Psychology from Columbia University.

"Like Salt"

Synopsis - When living in diaspora turns into a boxing match, one learns to fight with bare knuckles. Hala, an Arab American female boxer in New York City, and Kendrick, an African American jazz musician, improvise their way through a passive-aggressive America.

Filmmaker - Darine Hotait is a published author, screenwriter, film director and the founder of Cinephilia Productions. Her award-winning films can be seen on SundanceTV, AMC Networks, BBC Channel and ShortsTV. She is the recipient of the prestigious New York Council on The Arts Artist Award, The New York Foundation For The Arts Fellowship, The AFAC Grant, a Goethe Award nomination and Cannes’ International Scriptwriters' Award at Cannes Film Festival. She is an advisor for New York’s leading arts organization NYFA and a writing consultant for FFFMed Residency and The Sundance Institute X Care program. She is currently developing her narrative feature film "Like Salt" that was awarded the NYSCA Artist Award.

The event is free and open to the public. Please RSVP, seating is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Presented by the Zolberg Institute on Migration and Mobility at The New School