Sandcastles
Sandcastles
Our team is determined to do justice to a story that so many people relate to. Having your financial support will not only contribute to one film, but to a larger movement of representation. Together, we can help shape a society where cultural differences are not barriers to equality.
Our team is determined to do justice to a story that so many people relate to. Having your financial support will not only contribute to one film, but to a larger movement of representation. Together, we can help shape a society where cultural differences are not barriers to equality.
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Story
Inclusion Statement
SANDCASTLES is a film about a highly marginalised and vilified population: Arabs. It is written and directed by a woman of Arab origins. One of SANDCASTLE’s primary purposes is to diminish prejudice and stereotyping by presenting an authentic portrayal of Middle Eastern people in the media.About The Project
The story takes place in Beirut, Lebanon. The main character is a young woman named Samar. Samar comes from a modest family and like most young people there, she has a love hate relationship with the country. She navigates her daily life having to deal with little aggressions that she brushes off as part of the daily life. She goes to college and works to save up money to buy a car and pay tuition. One fateful night after trying to get back home from work, she takes a public cab home. The events of that night push her to take the decision to leave.
Everybody has a reason to leave a place at some point in their life. It is especially hard when you have to leave family, friends and your homeland behind. It is undoubtably a hard decision to take, nonetheless it is a decision that many have taken, and many continue to take every day. What pushes a person to want to leave? What made our protagonist Samar want this for herself?
In this film, we follow Samar's story; one of many of the youth leaving Lebanon every year. In 2015, an estimated 196,280 people left. And the numbers are increasing each year at an alarming rate.
Your contribution would make this film happen! What is the money going towards?
STRETCH GOAL
$18,000
This film explores the complexity of a woman from the Middle East.
Here's a note when it comes to women filmmakers:
But it's not only in Hollywood, it is everywhere else in the world! By helping this project, you will also be making a change and encouraging more women filmmakers to be in business.
NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL OR TOO BIG!
Did we mention that,
CONTRIBUTIONS CAN BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE!
Please check with your tax preparer regarding your eligibility.
From the Writer/Director:
I didn’t know where to start with the story until I sat down one day, struck by homesickness, a whole script poured out of me. In a sense, this story relates not only to me but to friends and to a majority of youth that has ever felt simultaneous feelings of resentment and love towards a country who always seems troubled. But after removing myself for a moment, I realised that it is rather a universal experience shared by many before me and possibly many after me. What do people run from? What is it that they seek? Possibly better opportunites, a chance at a better life or maybe shelter from the constant feeling of danger and fear.
- Sabine Bou Jaoude
Incentives
$10
THANK YOU!
A big gigantic warm thank you from Sandcastles and a shoutout on Social Media (unless you wish to remain anonymous). Your friends will know that you love & support art!
$25
A polaroid and a postcard from Beirut!
Receive a polaroid picture taken by the filmmaker of beautiful Beirut as well as a postcard with a personalized thank you note from Lebanon!
$50
Traditional handmade jewellery from Lebanon
Receive a beautiful handmade piece of jewellery from Lebanon. If you don't wear jewellry, it would make a wonderful gift for a loved one!
$75
Exclusive Link to the film + ask a question
Receive a private link to the film before its premiere screening and festival run.
You will also get to ask the filmmaker any question you might have about the pre-production phase, production phase or anything else you might wonder about filmmaking.
$150
Millions of years old fossils
If you're a fan of paleontology, or even if you're not, this is still pretty cool. Receive a fossil excavated from the North of Lebanon that is literally a million years old!
Claimed: 3 of 12
$250
A painting from the filmmaker
Receive an exclusive signed artwork by the filmmaker! it won't be this exact one, but it serves as an example. Fun fact: this one was painted with leftover coffee grinds!
Claimed: 2 of 5
$550
Three of a kind!
We'll make you an offer you can't refuse. Pick not one, not two, but any three of the previous incentives and you'll receive them!
$1,000
Associate producer credit.
Be one of the film's producers and get IMDb credits! An Associate Producer generally means a person who has helped in putting a film together. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
$2,500
Top of the line.
Co-Producer Credit!
You'll be credited onscreen as one of the film's main producers, we'll add to the deal one other prize you might like from the incentives' list!
$5,000
Royal Flush!
The sweetest deal you could have! Yes, you receive each and every single prize on this page. You get a Thank You, and you get a polaroid + postcard, and you get handmade jewellery, and you get a link, and you get a fossil and you get a painting and you get producer credit, and you get all of it!
Claimed: 0 of 3
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Wishlist
Use the WishList to pledge cash and loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an incentive directly.
$10
THANK YOU!
A big gigantic warm thank you from Sandcastles and a shoutout on Social Media (unless you wish to remain anonymous). Your friends will know that you love & support art!
$25
A polaroid and a postcard from Beirut!
Receive a polaroid picture taken by the filmmaker of beautiful Beirut as well as a postcard with a personalized thank you note from Lebanon!
$50
Traditional handmade jewellery from Lebanon
Receive a beautiful handmade piece of jewellery from Lebanon. If you don't wear jewellry, it would make a wonderful gift for a loved one!
$75
Exclusive Link to the film + ask a question
Receive a private link to the film before its premiere screening and festival run.
You will also get to ask the filmmaker any question you might have about the pre-production phase, production phase or anything else you might wonder about filmmaking.
$150
Millions of years old fossils
If you're a fan of paleontology, or even if you're not, this is still pretty cool. Receive a fossil excavated from the North of Lebanon that is literally a million years old!
Claimed: 3 of 12
$250
A painting from the filmmaker
Receive an exclusive signed artwork by the filmmaker! it won't be this exact one, but it serves as an example. Fun fact: this one was painted with leftover coffee grinds!
Claimed: 2 of 5
$550
Three of a kind!
We'll make you an offer you can't refuse. Pick not one, not two, but any three of the previous incentives and you'll receive them!
$1,000
Associate producer credit.
Be one of the film's producers and get IMDb credits! An Associate Producer generally means a person who has helped in putting a film together. Doesn't that sound wonderful?
$2,500
Top of the line.
Co-Producer Credit!
You'll be credited onscreen as one of the film's main producers, we'll add to the deal one other prize you might like from the incentives' list!$5,000
Royal Flush!
The sweetest deal you could have! Yes, you receive each and every single prize on this page. You get a Thank You, and you get a polaroid + postcard, and you get handmade jewellery, and you get a link, and you get a fossil and you get a painting and you get producer credit, and you get all of it!
Claimed: 0 of 3
- Updates
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Current Team
About This Team
ELYSSA BOU YOUNES - Executive Producer
Elyssa is a freelance producer from Lebanon. She graduated from the Lebanese American University with a BA in Communication Arts. She later attended IE business school in Madrid from which she obtained a masters degree. On top of being a successful career woman, Elysaa is a blogger who promotes mental healh and positive body image.
ERNEST POUTTU - Cinematographer
Ernie is a documentary filmmaker and cinematographer from Akron, Ohio. He has created freelance film and video work in the music industry, the corporate entertainment world, and advertising, while also completing numerous independent films that have been screened in various festival circuits throughout the world. Currently, Ernie is an M.F.A student in the Film program at Emerson College where he has created diverse experimental films and installations, documentaries, and narrative films. His work has appeared on NBC, ESPN, CNN, FUSE, MTV, VICE News, NatGeo, and VH1.
SABINE BOU JAOUDE - Writer and Director
Sabine is an artist and filmmaker from Lebanon. She received her B.A. in Radio, TV and film in 2011 from the Lebanese American University, Beirut. In 2015, she moved to Boston, Massachusetts to pursue her MFA in Media Arts from Emerson College where she’s currently a candidate. She has worked as a freelancer in Television, feature films and music videos.
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