In this programme of Palestinian short films, social stigmas, distant wars, and unconditional love emphasise the importance of familial kinship.

Programme:

Give Up the Ghost, dir. Zain Duraie, Palestine 2019, 15 min., Arabic with English subtitles

Salam and Ammar’s dreams of becoming parents shatter when they find out they are unable to conceive.

Him and I, dir. Ibrahim Handal, Palestine 2018, 13 min., Arabic with English subtitles

A profound piece from first-time filmmaker Ibrahim Handal that draws on the subtleties contained in the quotidian life of a woman in her mid-thirties.

Rupture, dir. Yassmina Karajeh, Palestine 2019, 15 min., Arabic with English subtitles

A cast of young nonprofessional actors perform their personal experiences of loss and new beginnings as they build new lives in Canada after fleeing the war in Syria.

Saja, Black Suits You, dir. Ahmad Alkhalil, Palestine 2017, 13 min., Arabic with English subtitles

Saja is a young woman struggling to overcome her husband’s recent death, but her physical and psychological need for a new partner ignites a web of fantasies in her mind.

Strange Cities Are Familiar, dir. Saeed Taji Farouky, Palestine 2018, 21 min., Arab with English subtitles

Ashraf is a Palestinian father living in the UK, struggling to confront the memories that haunt him, the promises he couldn’t keep, and the family he couldn’t protect. A film about memories, guilt and resilience, inspired by the writing of Mourid Barghouti and the director’s personal experiences.

The Crossing, dir. Ameen Nayfeh, Palestine 2017, 15 min., Arab with English subtitles

Grown Palestinian siblings attempt to visit their sick grandfather on the other side of the wall. However, issues arise when they arrive at the checkpoint with their permits to cross.