Palestine is often viewed through a lens of violence and conflict, but the 2018 London Palestine Film Festival is aiming to change this through its unique celebration of humanity.
Including over 30 films, a book launch, a film masterclass and opportunities for interaction with filmmakers, the festival has been spread across 6 venues throughout the capital for the past week.
The packed schedule offered an enthralling glimpse into the lives of ordinary Palestinians.
The organiser of this year’s festival, Roua Naboulsi, emphasised that the festival isn’t about politics, but art. “The news from Palestine is constantly about politics or violence,” she said, and has “nothing of substance” when it comes to real, human stories.
Naboulsi wants films to humanise the situation, and to tell “stories of Palestinians going about their lives”. People are the same everywhere: they love, hate, laugh and cry. These movies focus on the interactions and irrationalities of life in Palestine.
The festival showcased established filmmakers and household names from the Palestinian film industry, as well as emerging talent. The screenings included ‘Ghost Hunting,’ Palestine’s contender for the 2018 Oscars, short films by the multi-award-winning Danish-Palestinian filmmaker Mahdi Fleifel, and ‘A Magical Substance Flows Into Me’ – a stunning documentary about the musical history of Palestine.
The general perception of events organised by Palestinians or in the name of Palestine is that they are simply about the conflict and politics in that part of the world.
This film festival, however, impartially promotes art and culture without promoting one particular narrative over another.
When questioned about the responsibility of filmmakers and actors to address the realities of the Palestinian struggle, sci-fi director Larissa Sarsour said that filmmakers should not be saddled with the responsibility of representing Palestinian identity.
The organisers had a swathe of support from donors and patrons for this year’s festival. “It was really moving,” said Naboulsi. Screenings have largely been full, with more than 250 people attending short films and ‘Gaza Surf Club’ at The Phoenix Cinema on the 25th of November.
Naboulsi also highlighted the prominence of women in the movies being shown this year.
“Women filmmakers and actors are one of the themes of this year’s festival,” Naboulsi said. If there is one film Naboulsi recommends, it is ‘Dégradé.’
Set in a beauty salon in Gaza on a hot summer’s day, the movie follows a group of female characters – including a drug addict, a bitter divorcee, a bride-to-be, and a pregnant woman. Chatting as they wait their turn, they are interrupted by a gangly man with a lion, and gunfire from across the street.
“It shows the absurdity of life in Gaza even in the midst of violence,” said Naboulsi, and brings home that humans everywhere are just that – human.