The Story
Amid the tension of 1998 Israeli-occupied Southern Lebanon, a group of boisterous Australian-raised teenage girls moving back to their ancestral homeland of Lebanon prove that nothing — not even political conflict — is as explosive as the daily minutiae of the average teenage girl.
Based on a true story, the show takes a look at the much less explored reverse immigrant experience and what it means to feel like an outsider in a place where everyone’s saying “welcome home” and all through the irreverent nonchalant humerous POV of the region and time period’s ordinary teenage girls.
The Middle East is so rarely explored in television, and when it is, it is depicted as this irrationally violent sandbox, but in this show, the scariest thing about the Middle East may very well be their teenage girls.
What People Are Saying
“Ajnabiyeh presents a vibrant array of cultural, personal, and emotional layers, making it a promising piece in the realm of contemporary storytelling. Its strengths lie in its authentic portrayal of characters, adept use of dialogue, and the rich cultural backdrop that sets it apart.”
— Alan J. Levi, director/producer
“A story that is both culturally rich and universally appealing. The infusion of humor and drama in equal measure gives the script a distinct voice, setting it apart from more traditional narratives in this genre.”
— Michael Sloan, producer/writer
“This is a world that's absolutely begging to be produced. It can't be overstated how strong the world is, giving the material a fantastic tone of mischievous fun as we subvert expectations on a region that's oftentimes painted with too broad of a brush… it's not hard to imagine studios willing to pay whatever it takes to bring this to life.”
— BlackList industry professional
“a brilliant feat – no one else is making anything like this.”
— Rachel Clements, producer/writer
Awards
Yes… And Laughter Lab 2024, Official Fellow
WeScreenplay Diverse Voices Lab Fall 2024, Official Fellow
Sesame Workshop Writer’s Room 2024, Official Fellow
Moonshot Initiative Pilot Accelerator 2024, Official Fellow
About The Writer:
Batoul Mourad
Batoul is a screenwriter based in New York City. She graduated from NYU where she studied history education and she often explores the intersection of history, adolescence, and comedy in her writing. She was suppose to be a history teacher, but decided to disappoint her parents instead by turning her heritage into a joke — literally, she wrote a sitcom about it.
Her experience with production along with her background in history coupled with her sharp artistic voice grants her a unique perspective. This perspective enables her to craft compelling stories that seamlessly intertwine historical narratives, comedic vision, and a subtle, yet nuanced understanding of the often misunderstood Arab experience.
