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.