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
“The world itself is delightful to spend time in, and the writer does a great job of finding moments of comedic contrast between teenage girlhood and occupied Lebanon.”
— Susan Soon He Stanton, Emmy-winning writer/producer (Succession)
“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
Outstanding Screenplay TV Pilot Competition, Finalist
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.
