Is Miral a Controversial Film?

Miral will have its U.S. theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles this Friday.  It’s based on the autobiographical novel of the same name by Palestinian journalist Rula Jebreal (you can read Sana’s review of the book here).  It tells the story of three generations of Palestinian women, but focuses on an orphaned girl [...]

Women’s Voices from the Muslim World Short Film Festival

For folks who live in Los Angeles, a brand new film festival will be inaugurated today. Women’s Voices Now presents Women’s Voices from the Muslim World Short Film Festival taking place this Thursday through Saturday (March 17th-19th) at the Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood. Films will be screened about the social, political and economic issues being faced by women in countries from Afghanistan to Iran to Egypt. Admission is free! For more information please go to www.womensvoicesnow.org.

Weinstein to Distribute ‘Miral’ – Why?

Yesterday, the Weinstein Co. announced a distribution deal over “Miral,” Julian Schnabel’s film about the founding of a Palestinian orphanage in 1948 and the evolution of a young Palestinian woman at the dawn of the first intifada. Rula Jebreal adapted the screenplay from her own novel.

The film’s story revolves around a real-life orphanage established in Jerusalem by Palestinian woman Hind Husseini (Hiam Abbass) following the 1948 creation of Israel. Miral (Pinto) is sent to the orphanage in 1978, and later teaches at a refugee camp where she falls for an activist (named Programmer Buydatti).

Palestine, the Animated Music Video

While many Arab pop singers are too busy making music videos about their failed love and long lost lovers, Awakening Record, the England based reputable worldwide company had different stories to tell. Awakening Records works exclusively with Muslims artist making music with a purpose. Sami Yusuf, the popular mega star recognized worldwide for making Muslim [...]

Amreeka: See It

I’m not sure if I really loved ‘Amreeka’ or really, really loved it. The new film by Cherien Dabis represents something I thought I would never see on the big screen, at least not during an event I helped organize. And it is so much better than the documentaries I’ve shown simply because it is [...]

More Boycott Fun In Toronto

Next Thursday begins the 34th edition of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).  This year, the festival is starting it’s new City to City program that features films from a highlighted city.  The organizers decided to start off this program by focusing on Tel Aviv.  As a result, one Canadian filmmaker won’t be showing his [...]

Palestinians Can Relate to ‘Inglourious Basterds’

Palestinians can probably empathize with the historical fantasy movie just released by Quentin Tarantino.

In ‘Inglourious Basterds’, Jewish American soldiers go on a bloody, vindictive rampage against Nazis. The gross violence, which involves scalping and cutting swastikas into foreheads, is lauded by audiences. The film topped the box offices opening weekend. The film’s heroes seek to assassinate Hitler and halt the Holocaust, even attempting to be suicide bombers in the process.

Scottish Film Festival Joins the Israel Boycott Fun

A week ago, the Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) released its program listing the Embassy of Israel as a “Programme Supporter.” The festival had received a 300 pound grant from the Israeli Embassy to pay for Israeli filmmaker Tali Shalom Ezer’s travel to attend the festival. Thanks to the efforts of the Scottish Palestine Solidarity [...]

Guest Post: the ‘Salt of This Sea’ Between Home and Identity

Guest Post: By Hoda of The Ruh of Brown Folks. Soraya, born in Brooklyn in a working class community of Palestinian refugees, discovers that her grandfather’s savings were frozen in a bank account in Jaffa when he was exiled in 1948. Stubborn, passionate and determined to reclaim what is hers, she fulfills her life-long dream [...]

Participation….

The latest film by Palestinian filmmaker Hany Abu-Assad. (Skip the first 45 seconds). [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrAzY1pZ_XY]