Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana has joined the production team of “It’s Complicated,” a short film exploring Palestinian womanhood, set to premiere at the HollyShorts Film Festival in Los Angeles this August. Saldana is serving as an executive producer on the project.

The film was written by and stars Palestinian-American filmmaker Iman Karram, who also produced the work. It centers on Yara, a Palestinian-American screenwriter living in Los Angeles, who begins taking online Arabic lessons from Hana, a poet and teacher based in Gaza, portrayed by Jordanian American actress Dina Shuhaniber. Their lessons evolve into a close friendship characterized by shared ambition, humor, and sisterhood. The story takes a poignant turn as conflict pulls the characters apart, leaving Yara to confront grief, diasporic guilt, and a sense of duty to preserve Hana’s story.

Directing responsibilities were undertaken by Lebanese American filmmaker Darine Hotait. The film’s production team also includes Alana Duqum, Zoe Marie Jimenez, Matt Van Tine, as well as Kais Karram and Zane Harram of Malibu Mutt Studios. Eli Zavala of Splinter Pictures is listed as an executive producer alongside Saldana.

Saldana, who received an Academy Award in 2025 for her role in “Emilia Perez,” expressed her support for the film’s themes. She highlighted the personal nature of Karram’s story and its focus on identity, grief, and artistic responsibility. “I was moved by the tenderness of the relationship at the center of the film and by Iman’s commitment to telling a story rooted in Palestinian womanhood with honesty, humor and heart,” Saldana said.

Karram shared that the narrative draws from her own experiences. She explained that her real-life connection with an Arabic tutor inspired the screenplay and profoundly influenced her perspective on identity and her role as an artist. “What began as online Arabic lessons with Hana grew into a friendship and a Palestinian sisterhood that made me feel truly seen from the other side of the world,” Karram said. She added that this relationship gave her the confidence to embrace her voice and to tell stories meaningful to her community.

The 22nd edition of the HollyShorts Film Festival, which provides Oscar-qualifying recognition, will be held from August 13 to 23 and features over 400 short films from around the globe. “It’s Complicated” is slated to be among the festival’s highlighted presentations.