BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Hend Fakhroo
Certifiable Productions
GUEST PROJECT
Six year old LEILA wakes up one day to find her mother gone with only her father left to take care of her. After months of trying they settle into a stable routine only to have her mother suddenly return.
Six year old LEILA and her mother, SARA, live in a comfortable home in Qatar with ALI, Leila’s father and Sara’s husband. One morning, Ali and Leila wake up to find Sara gone. Although Ali does his best to reassure his daughter, he’s deeply concerned about his wife’s disappearance. Ali calls upon his mother, MARIAM, to move in to help him take care of Leila. Mariam revels in the idea of being the family savior. She takes over and the small family soon starts to settle into a routine. Leila becomes ill one day and has to be taken to the hospital. It is at this point that Sara suddenly returns. The family is shocked and Ali tries to find out where she has been. Mariam is concerned about Sara’s capacity to take care of Leila. Sara reveals she has only returned to take Leila and leave, but Ali and Mariam will do everything in their power to stop her.
HEND FAKHROO / IMDB
HEND FAKHROO is a Qatari writer and director.
Her short films, HIS NAME and THE WAITING ROOM have traveled well in the festival circuits, and were both in the Short Film Corner at the Cannes Film Festival.
More recently, Hend has co-written a script for an American film. She has also written the screenplay for and will direct her first feature film, BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. Both films are set to start filming later this year.
Director’s statement
This film takes an intimate look at a Qatari family centering around a young daughter. Although things appear to be perfect, the marriage is heavy with hidden emotional and physical abuse. It is important for me to show how different perceptions can affect a person’s judgement, especially within an Arab marriage. The idea of making a film, and opening a discussion, about emotional and physical abuse is taboo in most of the world, let alone in Arab countries. It’s time we took a closer look at our immediate surroundings.
JUSTIN KRAMER / IMDB
JUSTIN KRAMER is an American producer based in Qatar. Having previously worked on projects for HBO, MTV, CNN, and AMC among others, his work as both producer and director is noticeable in numerous award-winning short films, tv shows, documentaries, and commercials. In 2012, Kramer founded The Film House in Doha.
He was selected to participate as one of the Up & Coming Producers at the Torino Film Lab event in 2018.
Kramer continues to work with filmmakers in Qatar while producing international films such as MALA MALA by Antonio Santini and Dan Sickles and episodes of the BBC drama series MCMAFIA.
Producer's statement:
This film takes an intimate look at a Qatari family centering around a young daughter. Although things appear to be perfect, the marriage is heavy with hidden emotional and physical abuse. It’s important for me to show how different perceptions can affect a person’s judgement, especially within an Arab marriage. The idea of making a film, and opening a discussion, about emotional and physical abuse is taboo in most of the world, let alone in Arab countries. It’s time we took a closer look at our immediate surroundings.
Where are we at?
Total estimated budget: 300.000 €
Finances pending: 200.000 €
Financing in place: 100.000 €
Production timeline
January 2023
Production company profile
CERTIFIABLE PRODUCTIONS was started by filmmaker Hend Fakhroo in 2012 to support the local film industry in Qatar.