Leila in San Francisco
Narrative Feature
Project Type: Narrative Feature
Project Status: Development
Writer, Director, Producer: Inès Hamadi
LOGLINE
When Leila, a young Algerian-French woman from the unseen ghettos of Lille, receives a phone call that changes her life, she moves to San Francisco as an au pair, embarking on a transformative journey that forces her to confront her hidden heritage, redefine her identity, and break the silence imposed by a society that never truly saw her.
SYNOPSIS
She never lived as Emily in Paris, but she became Leila in SF. Growing up unseen in the poverty-stricken ghettos of Lille, France, Leila spent her childhood navigating an invisible divide: told she was French, yet always treated differently. A phone call offering her a job as an au pair in San Francisco becomes her lifeline and chance for reinvention.
In the vibrant yet disorienting landscape of San Francisco, Leila grapples with the complexities of a new culture, language barriers, and isolation. As friendships and encounters gradually force her to confront her Algerian roots, she begins exploring the rich, silenced history of her ancestors—stories of resilience, injustice, and erased identity.
Through painting, friendship, love, and loss, Leila starts reclaiming her voice and heritage. Her journey transforms from simply escaping poverty and prejudice in France into a powerful personal awakening, compelling her to question the imposed silence on marginalized communities like hers. Ultimately, "Leila in San Francisco" is a compelling story of identity, courage, and rediscovering oneself by confronting the shadows of the past to illuminate a brighter future.
MORE ABOUT THIS PROJECT
This movie is a personal story based on my own journey as a French-Algerian woman navigating identity, immigration, and womanhood. Leila, born in the ghettos of Lille, represents the unseen youth of France—children of immigrants who are born French but never truly considered French. When she becomes an au pair in San Francisco, she’s thrown into a world of wealth, freedom, and cultural contrast. For the first time, she’s seen as “French,” a label denied to her in her own country.
This shift sparks an internal journey of self-discovery. Leila meets other immigrant women—Tatiana from Russia, Mariana from Brazil—each with their own path, yet sharing the experience of womanhood in a foreign land. Through these relationships and her growing awareness, Leila begins to question what truly matters. Behind the facade of the wealthy American family she works for, she sees emotional absence, disconnection, and the illusion of success.
Leila reconnects with her roots, she realizes that culture, family, and heritage are her true wealth.
This story sheds light on the voices of immigrant women too often ignored—especially those of the North African diaspora in France, who helped build the country yet remain marginalized. I’m uniquely positioned to tell this story because it’s my lived truth. Through Leila, I speak for those who’ve remained in the shadows for too long. This is a story of reclaiming space, identity, and voice.
Meet Inès Hamadi (Writer, Director, Producer)
Inès Hamadi is an Algerian-French artist and filmmaker based in Los Angeles. Born and raised in the overlooked ghettos of France, Inès grew up in poverty, an unseen existence shaped by her Algerian heritage. Her grandfather emigrated from Algeria in the 1970s to work as a miner, while she was raised primarily by her grandmother, who spoke no French. Despite being told she was French, Inès constantly faced discrimination and alienation, fueling her passion to address injustices through storytelling. Her work bridges cultural narratives, highlighting identity, heritage, and the stark realities of displacement and inequality. Her debut feature, "Leila in San Francisco," deeply reflects her personal journey and struggle, aiming to amplify silenced voices and confront the injustices that her community continues to face. Inès is committed to uniting diverse communities through compelling storytelling and cultural dialogue.
Your Help
LEILA IN SAN FRANCISCO is a fiscally sponsored project of Cinematography for Actors, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your donation will be tax-deductible!