Boston Palestine Film Festival 2008

In this comical film, a young camera crew making their first film is searching for the Al-Hakawati (a storyteller) in the Balata refugee camp. They interview several old people in the camp who can't recall any folk tales, but only mention their experiences of the Nakba (Palestinian exile in 1948). The young filmmakers nearly give up until the Al-Hakawati magically appears in a traditional costume and they are able to complete their film with his eloquent tales. Youth Filmmakers: Ahmed Khader, Amani Khader, Hussein Shtawi, Rasmi Arafat Supervised by Ruby Saed and Nitin Sawhney This film was produced during the Digital Storytelling Workshop conducted by Voices Beyond Walls at the Yafa Cultural Center in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, West Bank in August 2007.

Palestinian youth play characters on Satellite TV stations from all over the Arab world in a light humorous portrayal of the culture and politics of the day. The film depicts a vignette of hilarious scenes – a cross between reality TV and everyday comedy shows as interpreted by youth from Ramallah and nearby refugee camps. Youth Filmmakers: Mohammad Dasht, Jehad Gaith, Majdi Muala, Bedaa Shawkat and Mo’men Nazzal. The film was produced during the Digital Storytelling Workshop conducted by Voices Beyond Walls at the Computer Clubhouse in Ramallah with Kalandia and Amari refugee camps in July 2008.

Through the eyes of an old man living in the Shufat refugee camp and his dreams of growing up as a young boy in his displaced village, the film discusses Palestinian refugees’ right to return to their homeland. Youth Filmmakers: Noor Al Badey, Du’aa Hindee, Malak Al Badey and Majdoleen Al Abareen Supervised by Suzan Oda, Montaseer Al Abareen and Nitin Sawhney The film was produced during the Digital Storytelling Workshop conducted by Voices Beyond Walls in the Shufat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem in August 2008.

An artistic interpretation of the late Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish’s, poem “Intensive care unit.” The film uses photomontage with abstract black and white cinematic scenes shot by youth in the Shufat refugee camp, to express the deeper meaning of this heartfelt poem. The poem, spoken by a man and a young girl, is recorded in a small studio in the camp. The film being produced merely 2 weeks after the death of Darwish holds a special meaning for the youth and audiences today. Youth Filmmakers: Alaa Edreis, Baraa Eshhadeh, Khaled Esheikh, Ola Abu Taleb and Wardeh Edkedek Supervised by Anne Paq and Nitin Sawhney The film was produced during the Digital Storytelling Workshop conducted by Voices Beyond Walls in the Shufat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem in August 2008.

Kheir and Saado are old bohemian friends who live in occupied Old Akka, in the North of Israel. One is a singer and the other a fruit and vegetable merchant who roams the town on his horse Mercedes selling his grandmother’s famous pickles. Then one day the police accuse him of stealing an antique gun and a whole series of comic situations lead to a surprising ending. Palestine Audio-Visual Project of the A.M. Qattan Foundation trained Palestinian young adults to use film to convey their diverse experiences. Filmmakers in Palestine face difficulties not only in securing funding or finding qualified technicians, but also in finding a distributor for their work. In response, the A.M. Qattan Foundation created the Palestinian Audio-Visual Project (PAVP) and ran the program from 2004-2007. PAVP was co-funded by the A.M. Qattan Foundation and the European Union. The project had three areas of intervention: capacity-building through a National Training Program; a Film Education Program aimed at school students; and publication and distribution of audio-visual works with Palestinian themes. For more information: www.qattanfoundation.org.

This dramatic film is based on the real lives of children living in the Aida refugee camp, where conditions are often oppressive. It expresses the basic yearning of youth to have a safe place to play soccer in the absence of parks and sport facilities in their camp. Filmmakers: Maysan Saed, Murad Karaja, Mohammad Qassim, Mohammad Waleed, Aboud Al Azzeh, Ahmad Al Araj and Mohammad Faris. The film was produced during the Digital Storytelling Workshop conducted by Voices Beyond Walls at the Lajee Youth Center in the Aida refugee camp near Bethlehem, West Bank in August 2008.

When a young student in Shufat Refugee Camp is expelled from school for misconduct, life teaches him a hard lesson about the value of education for his future. A comical yet touching film acted in the most part by 10-12 year olds living in the camp. Youth Filmmakers: Marah Shuhadah, Amjad Jabareen, Nana Jabareen, Luae Kourde, Beasan Rode, and Muhamad Hashima Supervised by Ahmad Manasraha and Rola Haddad The film was produced during the Digital Storytelling Workshop conducted by Voices Beyond Walls in the Shufat Refugee Camp in East Jerusalem in August 2008.

In my childhood in Palestine, walls and what was written on them were my daily newspaper. But the years have passed and the situation has changed along with our dreams. So what has happened to my walls? Palestine Audio-Visual Project of the A.M. Qattan Foundation trained Palestinian young adults to use film to convey their diverse experiences. Filmmakers in Palestine face difficulties not only in securing funding or finding qualified technicians, but also in finding a distributor for their work. In response, the A.M. Qattan Foundation created the Palestinian Audio-Visual Project (PAVP) and ran the program from 2004-2007. PAVP was co-funded by the A.M. Qattan Foundation and the European Union. The project had three areas of intervention: capacity-building through a National Training Program; a Film Education Program aimed at school students; and publication and distribution of audio-visual works with Palestinian themes. For more information: www.qattanfoundation.org.