On June 30th 2024, The Arab Film Club returned to the Southbank Centre for a special event for Refugee Week around the theme, 'Home'.
The screening was followed by a Q&A hosted by curator Sarah Agha with the filmmakers in person. This bonus episode is a recording of the Q&A which took place on stage.
The programme...
Al Sit by Suzannah Mirghani (Sudan, 20 minutes)
"In a cotton-farming village in Sudan, 15 year old Nafisa has a crush on Babiker but her parents have arranged her marriage to Nadir. Al-Sit, the powerful village matriarch, has her own plans for Nafisa's future. Can Nafisa choose for herself?"
Beneath a Mother's Feet by Elias Suhail (Morocco, 15 minutes)
"A single mother in Morocco, trapped in a mundane existence, confronts her dreams and fears, leading to the agonising decision to forsake all she knows, even her children."
An Orange from Jaffa by Mohammed Almughanni (Palestine, 26 minutes) "Mohammed is desperately looking for a taxi to take him through an Israeli checkpoint. But when the driver discovers that Mohammed has already failed to cross the checkpoint, trouble begins."
Presented by Sarah Agha.
Audio recorded by Southbank Centre.
Poster designs by Romin Miremadi.
Music composed by Mina Samy.
Episode mixing and mastering: Aodhagán O’Flaherty.
Special thanks to Counterpoint Arts for partnering on this event.
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Farah Nabulsi on The Teacher
Episode 5: Farah Nabulsi on 'The Teacher'
Farah Nabulsi is a multi award winning Palestinian British filmmaker and human rights advocate. Her short 'The Present' won a BAFTA Award for Best British Short Film and an Academy Award Nomination for Best Live Action Short at the Oscars (2021). It is available to watch now on Netflix.
Farah’s most recent work 'The Teacher' had its world premiere at Toronto International Film Festival 2023 and marks her feature length directorial debut.
Logline: “A Palestinian school teacher finds himself caught between his risky commitment to political resistance and his emotional support for one of his most promising students.”
Series One : Palestinian Cinema.
Produced and presented by Sarah Agha.
Poster designs by Romin Miremadi.
Music composed by Mina Samy.
Episode mixing and mastering: Aodhagán O’Flaherty.
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Annemarie Jacir on Wajib
Episode 4 : Annemarie Jacir on 'Wajib'.
Annemarie has written, directed and produced over sixteen films with festival premieres at Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Locarno and Toronto. All three of her features were Palestine’s Oscar entries.
She is the founder of the production company Philistine Films and the co-founder of the artist-run space Dar Jacir for Art & Research in her hometown of Bethlehem.
The story of 'Wajib' follows an estranged father and son who must come together to hand deliver wedding invites as per traditional Palestinian custom. But as the pair spend the day together, can they put their differences aside or will the tense relationship comes to a head?
Wajib is available to rent online from the BFI iPlayer, Apple TV and more.
Series One : Palestinian Cinema.
Produced and presented by Sarah Agha.
Poster designs by Romin Miremadi.
Music composed by Mina Samy.
Episode mixing and mastering: Aodhagán O’Flaherty.
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Ameen Nayfeh on 200 Metres
Episode 3: Ameen Nayfeh on '200 Metres'.
Ameen Nayfeh is a Palestinian filmmaker from Tulkarem who wrote and directed 200 Metres, based on his experiences growing up in the occupied West Bank.
Logline: “The Israeli separation wall sits between Mustafa and his family. Denied entry on a technicality, Mustafa will stop at nothing to reach his injured son on the other side.”
The film starring Ali Suleiman premiered at the Venice International Film Festival in 2020 and has won multiple awards worldwide. It is available to watch now on Netflix.
Series One : Palestinian Cinema.
Produced, presented and edited by Sarah Agha.
Poster designs by Romin Miremadi.
Music composed by Mina Samy.
This episode also includes a short section from the film's soundtrack composed by Faraj Suleiman .
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Lina Soualem on Bye Bye Tiberias
Episode 2: Lina Soualem on 'Bye Bye Tiberias'.
Lina is an actress and filmmaker of Palestinian and Algerian heritage, born and raised in Paris. Through intimate storytelling, the film explores the life, love and losses of Lina's mother - the Palestinian actress and star of HBO's 'Succession' - Hiam Abbas.
Logline: “Years after leaving her Palestinian village, Hiam returns home in this intimate documentary about four generations of women and their shared legacy of separation.”
Bye Bye Tiberias premiered in 2023 at Venice International Film Festival and went on to screen at some of the world’s most prestigious festivals including Toronto, the BFI London Film Festival, the IDFA & many more. It was also chosen to represent Palestine at the Oscars 2024 and was nominated as Best Documentary at the 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards.
Series One : Palestinian Cinema.
Produced and presented by Sarah Agha.
Poster designs by Romin Miremadi.
Music composed by Mina Samy.
Brasil