Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Naim Dewod. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Naim , appreciate you joining us today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
As I sit here contemplating risk, I’ve realized that every choice we make involves stepping into the unknown. We accept small risks daily—driving to work, taking our kids to school, even opening up in relationships. These risks fuel personal growth, spark soul-searching, and reveal what we’re truly capable of.
Over the years, I’ve taken plenty of risks. In college, I was so passionate about filmmaking that I strained my relationship with my father. Fortunately, he came around, but not without its challenges. That taught me the first rule: you have to believe in yourself.
Later, I risked an investor’s money on my second feature film, which ultimately went undistributed. It was a hard lesson, but one of the best teachers I’ve ever had. Failure forces true self-awareness—you learn exactly what went wrong and how to improve. When you take a risk, have an end goal in mind; even failure should move you forward.
My biggest leap was moving back to Jordan. Born and raised in Cincinnati, I returned there for high school, then headed back to Ohio for college. After graduation, I chose Jordan again—joining our family business while pursuing filmmaking in a place where I had few creative connections. Building a film community from scratch was daunting, but I knew that following my passion required bold steps.
Risk is inevitable—and essential. If you’re willing to embrace it, you’ll discover opportunities you never imagined. The risks I’ve taken haven’t always paid off, but they’ve always led me closer to who I want to become.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I’m Naim Dewod—an Arab-American filmmaker born to Jordanian parents and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Long before I ever picked up a camera, I was writing scripts, watching films obsessively, and teaching myself the craft—soaking up everything I could until I entered college.
I built my formal foundation at the University of Cincinnati system: an Associate of Liberal Arts from UC Clermont (2013–2015), Broadcast Media and Film & Media Studies certificates from UC Blue Ash and the main campus (2016), and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies in Digital Media Collaborative in 2019.
My first hands-on film work began in college, where I made shorts and collaborated on student projects. In 2020, I directed and edited my debut feature Darkest Edge, which was picked up by Indie Rights and is now available to stream. I followed that by creating my second feature, Cruel, releasing it directly on YouTube to experiment with digital distribution and audience engagement
In 2017 I founded Brave Runner Films, my own production company dedicated to character-driven, micro-budget storytelling.
Today, I own Dewod Film Company—writing, directing, producing, shooting, and editing projects set against Jordan’s vibrant backdrop—while also working with Buffalo Wings & Rings International, crafting in-store digital activations and social-media campaigns tailored to the Middle Eastern market, and much more.
I’m proud to have written and soon to be directing (inshallah, in Arabic means hopefully) my script Almost Always. It it set in Jordan and will be in Arabic. I am super proud and confident. It’s currently in development.
What sets me apart is my resourceful, self-taught approach: I turn tight budgets into creative strengths and connect audiences across the U.S. and Jordan with authentic, character-led stories.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
Why do I do what I do? Why do I keep making films? For me, it all started instinctually—surrounded by Barney VHS tapes and the magic of moving images as a child. But it wasn’t until I sat in that dark theater watching Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2 that everything clicked. I turned to myself and thought, “I want to do whatever this is.”
That film made me feel something profound—and I’ve spent every day since chasing that feeling. My passion for cinema drives me through long days and tight budgets, through rewrites and reshoots, because I believe in the power of a frame to mesmerize, to move, and to connect.
Working in Amman, Jordan, I focus on the stories we live every day but rarely see on screen. With Almost Always, I strive to capture the rhythms of Amman—its humor, its quiet struggles—in my own voice. That voice, that personal perspective, is what sets every filmmaker apart. No one else can tell your story the way you do.
My mission is twofold: to represent Jordan authentically and to remind audiences everywhere that powerful stories transcend borders. I want young Jordanian filmmakers to pick up a camera, to know that their experiences matter, and to see that universal human emotions—love, loss, hope—unite us all. Through cinema, we learn empathy. That’s why I’m here, and that’s what keeps me rolling the camera.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
This question fascinates me. I’ve talked to countless people—both creatives and non-creatives—and in the Arab world, choosing anything other than doctor, lawyer, or engineer feels wild. Filmmaking has no guaranteed paycheck, so outsiders dismiss it as a fantasy. They watch the final cut and think, “I could do that,” never seeing the rewrites, the all-nighters, or the technical hurdles that go into every frame.
They’ll call you “insane,” but you’re not crazy—you’re driven. Their misunderstanding comes from never wanting to learn what it actually takes. Everyone’s got advice—second-hand tales and half-remembered stories—but your journey is yours alone, shaped by experiences no one else can replicate. Most people won’t understand the struggle until you’ve delivered the finished film—then suddenly they swarm you with “How did you do it?”
Here’s what I’ve learned:
Own your process: Invite people behind the scenes. Screen rough cuts, explain your lighting choices, share the sweat behind the shine.
Finish what you start: Every completed project is proof you belong in this industry. Let your results speak for themselves.
Set your own benchmarks: Tune out unsolicited opinions and measure success by your goals—whether that’s wrapping principal photography, nailing a festival premiere, or simply mastering a new editing technique.
Don’t worry about what others—creative or not—think. Focus on your goal. YOUR goal. Keep creating.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @naimd__
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@naimfilms
Image Credits
Me.