NY/LA PRODUCTION

We’re bringing American Fabric to life, and we need your support! This powerful short film follows two Pakistani-American women navigating identity, choice, and societal pressure. With an all-female team behind the scenes, we’re telling a story that amplifies the right to self-determination. Every dollar helps us take this film from script to screen. Join us in making an impact by donating or sharing our GoFundMe link in our bio! #NYLAProuduction #WomenInFilm #AmericanFabricFilm #MuslimRepresentation #WomensHistoryMonth #FemaleFilmmakers Photos graciously provided by the New Tampa Neighborhood News

Every year at the @sundanceorg Film Festival filmmakers are given the chance to support other films and are reminded of their why for storytelling while doing so. This is why we are still buzzing from the incredible response to “The Persian Version” at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival! We were so honored to receive the Audience Award for U.S. Dramatic, the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award, and the Audience Award for International Narrative Feature. “The Persian Version” tells the story of an Iranian American woman, Leila (@laylamoha ), who navigates family secrets and cultural clashes while caring for her ailing father. A story so near and dear to our mission of amplifying the voices of MENA and Muslim women. Stream The Persian Version. Available on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and Google Play. #NYLAProductions #SundanceFilmFestival #Sundance2025 #MENAWomenInFilm #WomenInFilm #ThePersianVersion #NewYorkFilm #LAFilm

Meet our founder, Dr. Nyla Hazratjee! Nyla is the powerhouse behind NY/LA with roots in Pakistan and a bi-coastal presence in NY and LA. From her early days as a producer and host to festival award winning films, Nyla’s journey is proof that her passion to share and expand the reach of MENA and Muslim women’s voices knows no bounds. Swipe through to see her vision and mission to uplift women’s voices in film. Comment below and tell us what stories you are passionate about telling? #NYLAProductions #MENAWomenInFilm #WomenInFilm #NewYorkFilm #LAFilm

Representation is not merely about visibility: it is about the power to shape the structures that decide which stories are told and whose voices are amplified. NY/LA Productions is entering a pivotal new chapter as we seek to secure a board membership at the Gasparilla International Film Festival (GIFF): a move designed to ensure that MENA and Muslim perspectives are centered at the highest levels of industry decision-making. By joining the GIFF board, we move beyond the role of storyteller and into the role of architect, directly influencing the curation and cultural equity of one of the region’s most significant cinematic platforms. This is more than a professional milestone; it is a commitment to systemic change and the self-determination of our community within the media landscape. We are currently fundraising to finalize this membership and would be honored to have your support in this mission. Join us in planting our flag at the table where the future of film is decided. ON OUR FOUNDER, NYLA’S BIRTHDAY, Support the mission via the link in our bio. #RepresentationMatters #IndieFilm #GIFF #NYLAProductions

We love talking about the ‘magic of cinema,’ but the real magic happens in the rooms where we talk about finance, distribution, and low-budget scripts that actually get made. 📝💸 Spending the weekend at the Sunscreen Film Festival wasn’t just about being on a panel; it was about demystifying the gatekeeping that keeps so many of our stories on the shelf. If we want to see more MENA and Muslim voices on screen, we have to master the engine that puts them there. Writing a script is the dream. Knowing how to fund and distribute it? That’s the revolution. ✊🎬 Let’s get real: For the indie filmmakers out there, what’s the one part of the ‘business side’ that still feels like a total mystery to you? #SunscreenFilmFestival #FilmFinance #IndieFilmmaking #RepresentationMatters #WomenInFilm NYLAProductions MuslimsInMedia FilmDistribution NarrativeEquity

In the driver’s seat of the narrative. Literally. 🎬✨ Huge thanks to @tampamagazine for the feature. We dove into the hustle of indie filmmaking, the power of MENA voices, and why I refuse to pick just one lane. Being a leader in film means more than just directing a scene; it’s about directing the cultural conversation. We don’t need permission to be multifaceted—we just need to show up. 🎥 Filmmakers: How are you challenging the ‘one lane’ rule today? Let’s get into it. Photographer @gabrielburgos2025 #FilmIndustry #MuslimWomen #IndependentFilm #Representation NYLAProductions CreativeEntrepreneur WomanOwned SundanceWinner

@NYLAproductionorg Dr. Nyla Hazratjee speaking with Shawn M Goudard, Founder & President of TheFilmCircle.Media aka Tampa Bay Film Circle at the 21st Annual Sunscreen Film Festival 2025 @sunscreenffstpete in St Petersburg, FL.

True representation is more than a seat at the table: it is the power to build the table itself. In an era where diversity is often reduced to a corporate checklist, we must pivot toward genuine self-determination and agency. Our latest blog, "From Screen to Stage," explores how the "production mindset" of independent filmmaking can dismantle traditional silos and foster radical collaboration: centering SWANA and Muslim voices that have long been pushed to the periphery. We are moving beyond the era of mere consultation; in 2026, the SWANA shift is no longer just a moral imperative, but a defining competitive advantage for those willing to lead with authenticity. Success in media and corporate leadership requires us to stop navigating existing systems and start creating new ones. It is about the evolution from being seen to being the architects of our own stories. Read the full rollout on our blog now. #RepresentationMatters #SWANAVoices #InclusiveMedia #NYLAProductions

Is your DEI strategy a checklist or a movement? Reclaiming agency on the corporate stage. At NY/LA Productions, we believe true innovation stems from shifting the lens: from mere consultation to full creative agency. For too long, DEI has been treated as a static checklist rather than a dynamic movement of self-determination. By reclaiming the 'production mindset,' we move beyond the margins to the center of the frame, fostering collaboration that transcends traditional industry silos. The SWANA shift is here, and in 2026, representation isn't just an ethical choice: it’s a competitive advantage. It’s time to stop watching and start leading. Check the link in bio for our latest deep dive into corporate innovation through film. #RepresentationMatters #SWANAVoices #FilmInnovation #NYLAProductions

A script is just the beginning. Actors are the ones who transform ideas into something real. They carry the emotion, the tension, the humanity of the story. Without them, the film doesn’t live beyond the page. #actors #filmmakingcommunity #indiefilm #filmactors #storytellers #filmindustry #filmmakerlife #actingcommunity

Women’s power isn’t something we found in a workshop: it’s an inherent, creative force we’ve always carried. In the film industry, there’s often a lot of talk about “giving” women a voice, as if it were a gift to be granted rather than a right to be reclaimed. At NY/LA Productions, we don’t just include women; we center them. There is a specific, natural electricity that happens when a woman takes charge of her own narrative: it is the ultimate act of self-determination. We believe that centering the voices of MENA, Muslim, and South Asian women isn’t just about diversity; it’s about acknowledging the natural power that has been driving storytelling since the beginning. This isn’t just about changing a script: it’s about shifting the entire cultural landscape through honest, innovative media. That inherent power is exactly what changes the world. We’re here to provide the platform; the power is already there. Join us in reclaiming the narrative. What makes YOU a female force of nature ? #femalefilmmakers #representation #nylaproductions #naturalpower

Authentic storytelling isn't just a creative choice: it’s a systemic necessity. At NY/LA Productions, we understand that true representation transcends the checklist; it must be the heartbeat of innovation within our industry. While data can track progress, it often fails to change hearts. Performative gestures: those fleeting moments of inclusion without depth: lead to fatigue rather than transformation. We navigate this landscape by centering the lived experiences of MENA, Muslim, and South Asian women, ensuring their stories are the bridge that dismantles prejudice and fosters human connection. The ROI of authenticity is clear: it yields better cohesion, sparks more innovation, and nurtures workplace health. We are moving beyond the spreadsheet to create stories that hold cultural equity and aesthetic weight. Success is not measured by a quota, but by the resonance of a narrative that rings true. We invite you to explore this evolution of storytelling on our blog. Read the full post: Why Authentic Storytelling. Link in bio. #AuthenticStorytelling #RepresentationMatters #IndieFilm #NYLAProductions