About

Cocoon Films (previously Cactus World Films ) is an independent production company that was founded in 2007 by Sawsan Asfari and Maya Sanbar. At its inception, Cocoon films aimed to make visible challenging issues in the Middle East – from the complications of refugee life to the struggles of the people in the Arab world. Since then, Cocoons’ scope has broadened to a multitude of subjects, while retaining its original values: justice, tolerance, and the personal narratives of those typically unseen. While Cocoon is a UK based company, many of our productions are international collaborations. We welcome work with like-minded filmmakers. 

In 2019, Sawsan became a partner in Louverture Films, an independent US based production company founded by Joslyn Barnes and Danny Glover.

In 2020, Cactus World became Cocoon Films, now owned and managed by Sawsan Asfari.