2008 Woodie Awards
Films give glimpse of Palestine
Leanne O'Brien
Issue date: 9/24/07 Section: The Inside
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The first Palestine Film Festival includes 43 films by fledgling directors as well as rare vintage films, US premieres and award winners. It will run Sept. 29 to Oct. 7, with films screened at Harvard University, the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA), Kendall Square Cinema and Coolidge Corner Theatre.
The festival begins at the MFA, with screening of Lina Makboul's "Leila Khaled: Hijacker" at 7:15 p.m. Saturday. The screening will be followed by a performance by violin virtuoso Simon Shaheen.
In addition to live music, the event will feature catering by Casablanca Restaurant. The opening party of the Palestine Film Festival marks the beginning of a nine day celebration of Palestinian film and culture.
Salma Ayyash, a member of the film festival's organizing committee, said the festival is breaking ground for Palestinian film.
"Although some organizations have done film series on Palestine in the past, this is the biggest undertaking for a full-fledged film festival," she said.
The festival is sponsored by a cultural organization called Tawassul, said Ayyash.
"Tawassul's mission is to promote Palestinian arts and culture. This festival is a cultural event whose primary goal is the sharing of Palestinian experience and perspectives through the cinematic arts," she said. "Palestinian cinema has a strong presence, as this festival demonstrates. These films are very powerful and people interested in film in general should be exposed to Palestinian cinema. And we are bringing this art to the area."
The festival will provide a glimpse into the lives of Palestinians living in Palestinian territories and abroad. The films' subject matter ranges from documentaries concerning the struggles of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation to comedy.
One film, "Driving to Zigzigland," follows a Palestinian cab driver in Los Angeles for 24 hours and highlights the challenges of being an Arabic immigrant in post-September 11 America. Another film, "Just Married," tells of the dilemma facing Palestinians who marry Arabic Israeli citizens despite the law enacted in 2003 that bars such couples from living together in Israel.
Ayyash said she encourages college students to come to the festival.
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