It Could Have Been Me
It Could Have Been Me follows Yasmeen, a 10-year-old Palestinian-American girl, whose friendship with Sumoud, a refugee from Gaza, sparks a dream that transports her into Sumoud’s world. Through the eyes of a child, the film explores displacement, resilience, and the fragile line between their lives—asking a quiet but urgent question: What if this had been you?
Lina Abdulkarim is a Palestinian-American mother, writer, and filmmaker. She is the creator of It Could Have Been Me, her debut animated short adapted from her award-recognized children’s book of the same title, praised by Kirkus Reviews and longlisted for the Palestine Book Awards. Lina self-funded and produced the film, bringing together a team of talented Palestinian artists whose lived experiences gave the project authenticity and heart. Through her film, she expands her mission into visual storytelling—exploring generational displacement, resilience, and the effects of war through a child’s eyes.
