Marya Zarif, born in Aleppo, Syria, studied communication and playwriting, graduating from INSIS in Québec.

She co-created <The House of Syria> (2013) and co-founded <I Want to Play> (2015), supporting Syrian refugee children through play.

In 2020, she created, wrote, and co-directed her first youth animation web series <Dounia>.​ 

André Kadi began as a comic book author and art director, later transitioning to directing animated series such as <LEGO Bionicles>, <L'Agent Jean>, and both seasons of <Dounia>.

In 2021, he co-directed his first animated feature <Dounia and the Princess of Aleppo>, which won awards at Annecy, LUCAS (Germany), Meknès (Morocco), and Japan.

He later directed <Hola Frida> and contributed to <Allah is Not Obliged>, <La Petite et le Vieux>, and the live-action short <Boîte à Savon>​