Exception
Muslims in the West Film Lab Winner
Like all powerful stories, EXCEPTION arose at a time of despair and great challenges, when compelling and authentic stories are needed most. When the M Film Lab and Open Screenplay, two organizations dedicated to empowering minority filmmakers, lowered barriers and leveled the playfield through an open and free film lab opportunity, the story for EXCEPTION by young Palestinian-American screenwriter, Nader Yousef, emerged as a winner.
In the collaborative spirit of birthing films, authentic voices merged when Palestinian-Canadians and Open Screenplay Co-Founders, Khaled Sabawi and Sami Sabawi, were granted the honor of writing the screenplay for EXCEPTION and developing it into a short film screenplay. Under the guidance of Oscar-nominated Executive Producer, Mohannad Malas, and Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning director Farah Nabulsi, Open Screenplay brought on Rodrigue Hammal, an award-winning Canadian director with Lebanese and Syrian heritage, to bring Exception to life.
