Doha Film Institute Presents 'Voices From Palestine' From Nov 2-9, 2023

"Voices from Palestine" screening series, presented by the Doha Film Institute

In response to the ongoing injustices faced by the Palestinian people, the Doha Film Institute is organizing the 'Voices from Palestine' screening series. This series has been carefully curated to harness the transformative power of cinema in order to address the imbalances in the global narrative. It aims to amplify the voices of Palestinian filmmakers, countering targeted censorship and misrepresentation, and creating a platform for fostering understanding, empathy, and a shared sense of humanity.

The series is set to commence on November 2, starting with a public screening of Elia Suleiman's acclaimed film, "The Time That Remains," at 8 PM in Katara Building 16. This screening is being presented in collaboration with Film lab Palestine as part of their global 'Palestine Cinema Days' Festival. This event coincides with the solemn anniversary of the Balfour Declaration in 1917, a historical moment that significantly impacted the lives of Palestinians.

Following the kickoff event, there will be a week-long public program featuring eight Palestinian films at Katara Building 16, Drama Theater. Admission to these screenings is free and will be on a first-registered, first-seated basis. Additionally, the screenings will include Q&A sessions with the directors, providing a unique opportunity for the audience to engage with the filmmakers and gain deeper insights into the showcased works.

In Elia Suleiman's 2009 film "The Time That Remains," a semi-autobiographical story unfolds in four episodes, spanning from 1948 to the present. The narrative follows Fuad, a gunsmith who witnesses the aftermath of the Israeli takeover in Nazareth. It then explores his son Elia's defiance against the occupation and his struggle to adapt to the changes brought about by these events

.Here is a list of the films featured in the program:

1. "My Love Awaits Me by the Sea" (2013) by Mais Darwazah, a poetic documentary about a journey to Palestine in search of an unseen lover, screening on Nov 3 at 4:00 PM.

2. "Divine Intervention" (2002) by Elia Suleiman, set in Nazareth and exploring a man's attempt to break a cycle of feuds while a love story unfolds, screening on Nov 3 at 8:00 PM.

3. "3000 Nights" (2015) by Mai Masri, a story of Layal's incarceration in an Israeli jail and her discovery of pregnancy, screening on Nov 4 at 4:00 PM.

4. "The Roof" (2006) by Kamal Aljafari, a portrait of a Palestinian family's life in damaged homes, screening on Nov 4 at 8:00 PM.

5. "Dégradé" (2015) by Arab Nasser and Tarzan Nasser, set in a Gaza beauty salon disrupted by gunfire, screening on Nov 5 at 7:00 PM.

6. "Little Palestine, Diary of a Siege" (2021) by Abdallah Al-Khatib, documenting life in the besieged Yarmouk camp, screening on Nov 6 at 7:00 PM.

7. "200 Meters" (2020) by Ameen Nayfeh, exploring the challenges faced by a couple from neighboring Palestinian villages, screening on Nov 7 at 7:00 PM and again on Nov 9 at 6:30 PM.

8. "Wajib" (2017) by Annemarie Jacir, a humorous story of a father and son delivering wedding invitations in their hometown, screening on Nov 8 at 7:00 PM.