REMEMBER – Diala Al-Abed Cast as Sasha

Ten friends in an isolated cabin are terrorized by a malevolent force that picks them off one-by-one. As each character is taken, the survivors forget that their friend ever existed, causing ripple effects that affect their personalities, relationships, and ability to survive the night.

We’re thrilled to announce that Diala Al-Abed has joined the cast of REMEMBER as Sasha—a stabilizing force in the ensemble who goes through some harrowing events throughout the film.

A native of the Asheville and Hendersonville area, Diala was born and raised in the mountains. Though she’s briefly lived in other cities—including a stint in San Francisco for a theatrical production—she always finds her way back home.

“This place is a part of me,” she said. “Especially in Asheville, the arts scene is really growing. This year, so many people I’ve known with absolutely no connections to the arts, I’m finding out that they’re doing local plays or poetry pieces or other projects. After so much tension in the last couple years, people are reaching out to more fulfilling things.”

Diala’s own artistic path began in dance. She trained from the age of four and entered college as a dance major—until one performance shifted everything. “My advisor told me to check out our school play at the time, and I just fell in love with it,” she said. “That was it.” She soon pivoted toward theater, earning a BFA in Theatre Performance and Dance Studies from UNC Charlotte, where she trained in modern dance, aerial arts, Commedia dell’arte, and Stanislavski-based acting techniques.

After graduation, she began working on local workshops and short projects, then traveled to San Francisco to perform in Returning to Haifa. Still, North Carolina continued to pull at her—and that’s exactly where she was when a friend pointed her toward REMEMBER.

“Our lead actress, Kirana, and I were taking classes together,” she said. “She gave me a heads-up about the audition. I’m so glad I took a chance.”

Now playing Sasha, Diala sees a lot to admire in the character. “I love her. She’s so true to herself,” she said. “Whether it’s in the moments of fear or when she steps up to the plate, I’m excited to explore all of it.”

And while she’s not usually a horror fan—at least not as a viewer—Diala is fascinated by what it means to act in one. “I get scared watching horror movies,” she admitted. “I hope I’ll be able to watch the finished film once it’s over. I know it’ll be terrifying, and I don’t know if I can handle it. I’m curious to see if this changes how I feel.”

REMEMBER will be her first time in the genre, and she’s eager to see where it leads. “I want to try a little bit of everything,” she said. “A period piece, a sci-fi drama, roles in other languages—anything that comes my way.”

More than anything, Diala values how acting here in North Carolina has helped her find connection. “Building a community through this work has been so meaningful. Some of my closest friendships have come from working on local projects.”

Between that grounded community and her own wide-ranging curiosity, Diala brings a sense of openness to the role of Sasha. We’re so glad she’s part of the REMEMBER family.

Stay tuned as we continue introducing the cast and crew behind the project. For updates or ways to support the film, reach out to us at [email protected].