Sense of Need (2004) begins simply enough with the main character narrating his life for the viewer. Almost switched at birth with a red-haired Jewish boy, Palestinian Joseph was born while Israel was at war with Egypt. At the age of seven his father bought him his first piano and then “began his life in color.” At first one might take this as purely a poetic metaphor, but this is not the case in newcomer Shady Srour’s psychologically complicated and loosely autobiographical plot. Srour, a man of many talents, wrote, directed, and produced his first full-length feature film. He also portrays the protagonist Joseph, a twenty-seven year old aspiring musician who lives in San Francisco and is just a week away from finishing his masters degree. Read more about Film review: "Sense of Need"
Bab el Shams (Door to the Sun) is the most recent cinematic achievement from Egyptian director Yousri Nasrallah. Adapted from the novel by Lebanese writer Elias Khoury, this ambitious film takes on the weighty goal of covering roughly fifty years of Palestinian history, from 1943 to 1994, and centers around the lives of a group of Palestinian refugees. EI film critic Jenny Gheith writes that Nasrallah succeeds in his large-scale recreations of demanding passages in Palestinian history while infusing intimate scenes with a nuanced tenderness. Read more about Film review: Door to the Sun
Last week in Ramallah, two major cinematic events took place; one was reported by the English-language press, while the other wasn’t. On April 6, the Ramallah Cultural Palace was packed with people for the second world screening of Hany Abu-Asad’s award-winning film Paradise Now. The following night, the same venue was filled with an invitation-only audience, consisting of youth bussed in from refugee camps and Palestinian ministers, to see the new Arabic-dubbed version of the 1982 Academy Award-winning film Gandhi. Read more about Star power deflects attention from ongoing debate
The contest between occupation and self-determination, history and erasure establishes the subject for the first contemporary exhibition of Palestinian artwork in the United States. Fittingly, and perhaps a bit defiantly, the show is titled Made In Palestine. The exhibition — on display from April 7th through the 21st at the SomArts Cultural Center in San Francisco’s South of Market district — is a collection of works from twenty-three artists, most of whom currently reside in Palestine. Included in the exhibition are two-dimensional works on paper or canvas, photos and sculpture, as well as textile and video installations. Read more about Review: "Made In Palestine" exhibit
When he was eight years old, Ivor Dembina was asked by his teacher Mr. Benson, “Are you British, or are you Jewish?” So began the journey of the North Londoner comedian (he jokes that his parents are refugees of South London) who came to question religious versus national identity, and in his hit show This is Not a Subject for Comedy gets his audience to remember the importance of this distinction. Though the show is the result of a trip to Jenin he made as a guest of the International Solidarity Movement, his experience growing up Jewish and becoming socially aware that drives the show. Read more about "This is Not a Subject for Comedy": Jewish comedian tackles the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
DC Cinema Palestine (DCCP) will present an array of insightful and provocative recent films and documentaries from and about Palestine. The films we have chosen explore the social, political, and personal issues confronting Palestinians. They illustrate what it means to be Palestinian in a world where Israeli occupation presents endless obstacles to the fulfillment of basic human rights. Our hope is that in some small way these films can contribute to a future of justice, peace, and co-existence. All donations and funds raised through the festival will be sent to the Milk for Preschoolers Program of ANERA, which feeds over 12,000 children in more than 100 preschools in Gaza with milk and biscuits fortified with nutrients and vitamins. Read more about DC Cinema Palestine Film Festival, April 3-May 7
The Chicago Palestine Film Festival begins April 15 at the Gene Siskel Film Center and continues from April 29 to May 3 at St. Xavier University in Chicago. The 23 film selections for this year include films from Palestine, Israel, Europe, and North America. This truly reflects the diversity of perspectives of Palestinians in exile and diaspora as well as non-Palestinian filmmakers who have made excellent films about the country and its people. In contrast to previous years, we have an large number of feature/narrative films as well as personal and hard-hitting documentaries and even an animation. Read more about 4th annual Chicago Palestine Film Festival 2005, April 15-May 3
I would never call it final resting place
the spot where she was crushed and smashed
into the landscape of a brutal Occupation
I would call it the restless spot
Librarian and artist Mary La Rosa offers a poem of remembrance for Rachel Corrie. Read more about Remembrance: Rachel Corrie 1979-2003
The Chicago Palestine Film Festival is pleased to announce its official selections for its 2005 screenings. This year’s festival will occur from April 15 to May 7 at the Gene Siskel Film Center and St. Xavier Valley Community College. Now in its fourth consecutive year, the Chicago Palestine Film Festival is an independent, not-for-profit, non-sectarian project based in Chicago that exhibits and promotes films by Palestinian directors and films about Palestine. CPFF is dedicated to presenting a film festival that is open, critical, and reflective of the culture, experience and vision of the filmmakers. Read more about Chicago Palestine Film Festival 2005: Official Selections
Made In Palestine, makes its first national tour stop in San Francisco, after opening in Houston. This unique exhibit is on view from April 7 through April 21, 2005 at SomArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street in San Francisco and will include an event series. “This is a momentous occasion because people rarely get to see the rich culture and creativity of the Palestinian people,” says Rayan El Amin of the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. “This will be a unique opportunity to not only experience art but also to learn about the history and current struggle of the Palestinians.” Read more about Debut US tour of "Made in Palestine" exhibition
