Hanan Kattan (born 22 May 1962) is a Jordanian-born, British-based

film producer A film producer is a person who oversees film production. Either employed by a production company or working independently, producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting the script, coordinating writing, di ...

of Palestinian origin. She is also co-owner of multi-media entertainment company

Enlightenment Productions Enlightenment Productions is multi-media entertainment company based in London and founded in partnership between producer Hanan Kattan and writer and director Shamim Sarif in 2001. Shamim Sarif wrote her debut novel, ''The World Unseen'', which ...

. Kattan created

in partnership with filmmaker/author

Shamim Sarif Shamim Sarif (born 24 September 1969) is a British novelist and filmmaker of South Asian and South African heritage. Her work often focuses on various aspects of identity including gender, race, and sexuality. It often draws upon her own person ...

were Winner of the Kingston Business Excellence Awards 2014, Best Creative and Media Sector Business.

Career

Hanan is a multi-award-winning producer. She recently completed her fifth feature, Polarized, shot in Manitoba. Her last feature release, Despite the Falling Snow, is the recipient of 13 awards and stars

Rebecca Ferguson Rebecca Louisa Ferguson Sundström (born 19 October 1983) is a Swedish actress. She began her acting career with the Swedish soap opera ''Nya tider'' (1999–2000) and went on to star in the slasher film ''Drowning Ghost'' (2004). She came to in ...

(

Mission Impossible ''Mission: Impossible'' is a multimedia franchise based on a fictional secret espionage agency known as the Impossible Missions Force (IMF). The 1966 TV series ran for seven seasons and was revived in 1988 for two seasons. It inspired a serie ...

) and

Charles Dance Walter Charles Dance (born 10 October 1946) is an English actor. He is known for playing strict, authoritarian characters and villains. His most notable film roles include Sardo Numspa in ''The Golden Child'' (1986), Dr. Jonathan Clemens in ''A ...

. She is currently developing a slate of movie and series projects focused on female protagonists and filmmakers, including The Athena Protocol series alongside Village Roadshow and Gran Via Productions. Kattan has produced three feature films through Enlightenment Productions including 1950s South African drama/love story ''

The World Unseen ''The World Unseen'' is a 2007 historical drama film, written and directed by Shamim Sarif, adapted from her own novel. The film is set in 1950s Cape Town, South Africa during the beginning of apartheid. The film stars Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sh ...

'' and Hanan’s first feature film contemporary urban romantic comedy ''

I Can't Think Straight ''I Can't Think Straight'' is a 2008 British romantic drama film directed by Shamim Sarif. Based on Sarif's 2008 novel of the same name, the film tells the story of a London-based Jordanian of Palestinian descent, Tala, who is preparing for an e ...

'' debuted at Palm Springs Festival and won 11 awards. ''

'' had its debut at Toronto Film Festival before going on to garner 23 awards internationally. Her 2011 feature documentary and directorial debut, '' The House of Tomorrow'', was inspired by the

TEDx TED Conferences, LLC (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is an American-Canadian non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "ideas worth spreading". TED was founded by Richard Sau ...

HolyLand conference that Hanan co-curated in Jerusalem. Hanan is a member of BAFTA and Women in Film. She was selected for the

TIFF Tag Image File Format, abbreviated TIFF or TIF, is an image file format for storing raster graphics images, popular among graphic artists, the publishing industry, and photographers. TIFF is widely supported by scanning, faxing, word processin ...

Producers Lab and has spoken on panels at conferences such as DLD Women as well as at BAFTA and the

BFI The British Film Institute (BFI) is a film and television charitable organisation which promotes and preserves film-making and television in the United Kingdom. The BFI uses funds provided by the National Lottery (United Kingdom), National Lot ...

. She has also raised money for causes including the Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund. Hanan is a voting member of BAFTA and a member of the CMPA (Canadian Media Producers Association). Despite the Falling Snow: At

Cannes Festival The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...

2013,

and Hanan announced their new film ''Despite the Falling Snow''. The film starring Mission Impossible 5 Swedish actress

Game of Thrones ''Game of Thrones'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. It is an adaptation of ''A Song of Ice and Fire'', a series of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin, the first ...

actor

Oliver Jackson-Cohen Oliver Mansour Jackson-Cohen (born 24 October 1986) is an English actor and model. He is best known for his role as Adrian Griffin in the 2020 adaptation of ''The Invisible Man'' and for his roles as Luke Crain and Peter Quint in the Netflix ...

, Antje Traue, Sam Reid,

Anthony Head Anthony Stewart Head (born 20 February 1954) is an English actor and singer. Primarily a performer in musical theatre, he rose to fame in the UK in the 1980s following his role in the Gold Blend couple television advertisements for Nescafé, w ...

and

Trudie Styler Trudie Styler (born 6 January 1954) is an English actress and film producer. Early life and family Styler was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, the daughter of Pauline and Harry Styler, a farmer and factory worker. When Styler was two years ...

, which was released in 2015. The film has won 13 awards to date, 3 at the Prague International Film Festival 3 more at the Milan International Film Festival and others at Los Angeles, Manchester, Sedona, Buffalo, Soho and Orlando Film Festivals. Kattan published her first book ''Grow Your Profits'' about online marketing in 2012 through

. In 2013, Kattan won ''Entrepreneur of the Year'' award at the Kingston Business Awards. In 2016, Kattan opened her Palestinian restaurant Tabun Kitchen in Soho, London.

Filmography

*''

'' (2008) *''

'' (2008) *'' The House of Tomorrow'' (2011) *'' Despite the Falling Snow'' (2015) *'' Polarized'' (2023)

Personal life

After nearly 20 years she married the writer and director

. They live in Surrey with their two sons.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Kattan, Hanan Palestinian women film producers Living people 1962 births Palestinian businesspeople Film producers from London