It's Complicated Arab Israeli Short at HollyShorts 2026

"It's Complicated" is a 17-minute and 42-second short film written, produced by, and starring Iman Karram, executive produced by Zoe Saldana, which explores the Arab/Israeli conflict through a one-woman show format and will be screened at the HollyShorts 2026 festival. The production, directed as a one-woman show, belongs to the narrative short film category and addresses cultural connection across conflict zones. The short solves the problem of portraying geopolitical conflict through the intimate lens of a friendship between a Palestinian-American screenwriter in Los Angeles and a poet-teacher living in Gaza.

Key Facts

The key specifications for "It's Complicated" include a runtime of 17 minutes and 42 seconds and a production role for executive producer Zoe Saldana.

What Is "It's Complicated"?

"It's Complicated" is a short film in which Iman Karram portrays Yara, a Palestinian-American screenwriter whose online Arabic lessons with a woman in Gaza develop into a friendship that symbolizes the Arab-Israeli conflict dynamic. The film is specifically classified as an Arab/Israeli conflict short and is set to appear at HollyShorts 2026. While the specific distribution channel for the film is unknown, its premiere context is the HollyShorts festival, a platform for short-form cinema.

Who Are the Creative Figures Behind "It's a Complicated"?

The creative team is led by Iman Karram, who wrote, produced, and starred in the short, with Zoe Saldana serving as executive producer and Dina Shuhaiber co-starring as Hana. Iman Karram performs as the protagonist, Yara, while Dina Shuhaiber plays the role of Hana. The source material confirms the writing and production credits belong exclusively to Iman Karram, with executive production handled by Zoe Saldana. No other crew roles are listed.

What Is the Plot and Theme of the Film?

The plot follows a Palestinian-American screenwriter in Los Angeles whose online Arabic lessons with a poet and teacher in Gaza turn into a significant cross-cultural connection. The narrative centers on Yara, a Palestinian-American screenwriter, and Hana, a poet and teacher living in Gaza. Their relationship is built on the formal educational context of online lessons but evolves beyond that, highlighting a shared ambition and humor.

"...a profound friendship built on shared ambition, humor, and sisterhood..."

The Movie Blog, regarding the relationship between Yara and Hana

The film uses the personal relationship between a screenwriter in Los Angeles and a poet in Gaza to illustrate the themes of the Arab/Israeli conflict. The short’s title and description suggest a focus on the complications of connection across divided lines, though the specific political stance of the film is not defined in the source material.

Who Is This For?

This film is for audiences of short-form cinema at festivals such as HollyShorts 2026 and for viewers interested in the Arab-Israeli conflict as depicted through personal, character-driven narratives. The ideal viewer is likely interested in independent cinema and geopolitical themes from a woman-centric perspective. Because the runtime is under 20 minutes, it is specifically designed for a festival circuit context where such durations are standard. The film’s specific target demographic beyond this is not identified in the source material.

Common Questions

Is "It's a Complicated" a one-woman show?

Yes, "It's Complicated" is specified as a one-woman show. This is attributed to Iman Karram, who is the writer, producer, and star of the production.

Where is "It's Complicated" scheduled to appear?

The short is scheduled to be shown at the HollyShorts 2026 festival. The source states the film appears at HollyShorts 2026 in August.

Who stars in the short film "It's Complicated"?

Iman Karram stars as the main character, Yara, while Dina Shuhaiber plays the role of Hana. The production also benefits from Zoe Saldana as executive producer.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single source material from The Movie Blog, specifically the post titled "‘It’s Complicated’ Is Arab/Israeli Conflict Short @ HollyShorts 2026." The source is the primary source of facts for this article, and no external data was added. This article was last updated on July 24, 2026.