Karina Dandashi
Directing
Biography
karina dandashi is a first generation arab-american muslim writer, director, and actor born and raised in pittsburgh, but mostly feels like a diasporic sad girl who’s obsessed with making art about her feelings. her films explore nuances in identity through the intersection of family, religion, and culture in southwest asian and north african (SWANA) and muslim communities in america. karina is a 2020 silver sun diverse voices creative culture fellow at the jacob burns film center and a 2021 sundance ignite fellow. she was featured in marie claire’s inaugural creators issue as one of the “top 21 creators to watch” in 2022. her debut feature script OUT OF WATER has recently been chosen by film independent for the 2023 screenwriting lab.
Known For
When Sama’s girlfriend blows off their Friday plans, the teen copes with romantic rejection by blasting music in her room. When her dad suggests hanging out, she agrees. Their evening takes an unexpected turn as a message forces her to choose between authenticity and keeping up appearances.
Baba I'm Fine
On the eve of her sister’s wedding, Karina brings her “best friend” home to meet the family. When the groom-to-be joins them, she is reminded of her family’s expectations and her queer anxieties begin to unravel in a film that blurs the line between fiction and reality.
Dress Up
Two cousins reunite in a Brooklyn bar, where a run-in with an ex makes the night even more chaotic.