Key Facts
Shivani Pandya Malhotra, former managing director of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea Film Festival, is expanding her Dubai-based production company Ta Films. Alongside co-founder Sangeeta Desai and newly appointed CEO Nadia Eliewat, the team aims to produce elevated film and series content from the MENA region and South Asia. The company recently acquired Jordan-based Screen Project and has a slate of half-dozen projects in development.
Details of the Expansion
Ta Films was established in 2022 by Pandya Malhotra and Desai. In 2025, they acquired Screen Project, bringing Eliewat on board as CEO and creative producer. The company's mission is to develop and produce content that is artistically distinctive yet commercially viable, with international appeal. Pandya Malhotra emphasized that they seek stories from unknown, underrepresented voices and are talent-led.
Impact on Regional Cinema
Ta Films has already made a mark with films like 'Yellow Bus' (2023) and 'The Station' (2025), which premiered at Cannes Critics' Week. The latter, directed by Sara Ishaq, was praised by Variety critic Jay Weissberg as a long-gestating, female-centered project set in Yemen. The company plans to shepherd two to three films per year, using a mix of soft money, co-productions, and broadcaster commissions.
What Readers Should Know
- Ta Films has two projects by Saudi director Mujtaba Saeed: 'Drowning' and 'Mecca, Berlin'.
- 'Drowning' is a Saudi-set drama about a man seeking execution of his father, with a four-day deadline.
- 'Mecca, Berlin' follows a young man traveling from Mecca to Berlin for his father's cancer treatment, developed with MBC.
- The company is committed to telling stories from underrepresented voices in the region.
FAQ
What is Ta Films?
Ta Films is a Dubai-based production company founded in 2022 by Shivani Pandya Malhotra and Sangeeta Desai, focusing on elevated film and series content from the MENA region and South Asia.
Who are the key people behind Ta Films?
The company is led by Shivani Pandya Malhotra, Sangeeta Desai, and Nadia Eliewat, who joined after Ta Films acquired Screen Project in 2025.
What projects does Ta Films have in development?
Ta Films has several projects including 'Drowning' and 'Mecca, Berlin' by Saudi director Mujtaba Saeed, and previously produced 'Yellow Bus' and 'The Station'.