Balata Film Collective 11 May 2006
Ruby Said of the Balata Film Collective filming a demonstration.
The Balata Film Collective was initiated to enable young Palestinians from Balata Refugee camp to use film as a method to break their isolation, challenge their oppression, and represent their lives to the world. This May 2006, 3 members of the collective will be touring the U.S. sharing their films and their stories, and hoping to build connections with other film collectives and film makers involved in the global struggle for justice and liberation.
The three members of the Balata Film Collective, who will be premiering their new film, Nour’s Dream, on the tour, are Ruby Said, Mohammed Farraj, and Mohammed Hajhamad. The tour will bring them to Bard College, Boston, New York City, New Jersey, New Orleans, Chicago and Minneapolis.
Ruby Said, 26 years old, who had no prior experience with video cameras or computers, became active in the Balata Film Collective in Spring of 2005. Since then, she has participated in the making of 5 short films and the documentary film “Nour’s Dream”. Ruby is also a women’s rights activist and a secretary at the Yafa Cultural Center where she coordinates children’s activities.
Mohammed Farraj, 28 years old, helped to found the Balata Film Collective and balatacamp.net news service after he was released from spending 2 years in zionist prisons in winter of 2004. Mohammed is a prisoner rights and human rights activist and a journalism student at An-Najah National University.
Mohammed Hajhamad, 32 years old, has run many drama programs and summer camps for children in Balata Camp, and he is the head theater trainer of A’edoon (“We Will Return”) Dabke and Art Theater group in Balata Camp’s Yafa Cultural Center. Mohammed has been working in theater since 1993, and has directed many plays, several television pieces, and most recently the documentary film “Nour’s Dream”.
The Balata Film Collective will be raising funds during their visit to help them achieve the following goals:
- Founding theaters or cinemas to make our films available for every one who wants to see them.
- Training children, youth and adults in Balata Camp how to make documentaries and how to use cameras to deliver their ideas.
- Participating in film festivals to deliver our ideas to the world.
In New Jersey and New York:
Thursday, May 11th
New Brunswick Public Library
60 Livingston Ave
New Brunswick, NJ
7:00 p.m.
Click for more information
Friday, May 12th
The Bridge (Made in Palestine exhibition space)
521 W. 26th St. 3rd Floor (b/tw 10th & 11th Ave)
New York City
7:00 p.m.
Click for more information
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