Palestinian Film Festival 2002 - Film Synopsis
Our Dreams... When?!
God Forbid!
Childhood in the Midst of Mines
100% Asphalt
Wabadeen (What More?!)
Only If It's Possible
Ya Wlad Haretna (Our Neighborhood's Children)
I Wish
Salymly ‘Aleh (Say hello from me)
Shaheed and Malak
‘Inna Kalam (We Have Something to Say)
Counting Stars
The Ibdaa Mural
Our Nights and Our Mornings
A Day in a Village Life
Premier Noel (First Christmas)
El-Maguito (The Small Magician)
Tenemos Derechos (We Have Our Rights)
Tierra No Reciclable “Non-Recyclable Earth”
El-Rey Blanco (The White King)
La Nave (The Space Ship)
A Puertas Cerradas (Behind Closed Doors)
Bulb
Ultimatum
Los Ninos Invisibles - The Invisible Children
Neelu-Peelu-Dheelu
Kanavu Malayilekku (To the Dream Mountain)
Log, Light, Louis
From Grass to Concrete
I Have a Dream
Little Norway
Si No Dius... NO (If You Don't Say... Not)
Capelito Hairy
Capelito Film-maker
Capelito Daddy
Over the Moon
The Human Body
Bees
Fun Days with Jake
Choori
Mother
Our Dreams... When?!
The young writers of the scenario enter the film as a group of friends whose day dreams become a reality. Mohamad, the journalist, covers the “young photo-journalists” exhibit in the camp, Rabab flies across all borders, Muna becomes a doctor, Walid finally sings on stage and Zeinab directs the film.
This film is a product of the project:
Palestinian Refugee Children in Lebanon Record their Lives & Express their Hopes
Project Coordinator: Moa'taz Dajani
Docudrama 2001, 16 min
Young Filmmakers: Rabab Abdel Hadi, Zeinab Kheizaran, Mohamad Azzouka, Mona Zaaroura, Walid Balqis
Direction & Editing: Hicham Kayed
Production: AL-JANA/ ARCPA
God Forbid!
The reality of life in the refugee camps blocks the dreams of children and becomes a nightmare for Halim. He is thinking of leaving school to support his family, while his friends spend the vacation acting as fortune-tellers.
Feature 2001, 26 min
Scenario by Young Filmmakers: Ahmed al-Shouli, Bachir Hussein, Jamal Mahmaoud, Mohamed Halimeh
Direction: Hicham Kayed
Production: AL-JANA/ ARCPA
Childhood in the Midst of Mines
Israel left many landmines in South Lebanon when they withdrew from the country in May, 2000. Following Israel's withdrawal many children continued to be injured by these mines. Ali, a bright 17-year old young person from Aiyta El-Shaab lost his leg to a landmine. Despite this disability, he is trying to live his life as before. Rabih was playing near his home with 2 friends, when a mine exploded and killed all three children.
Although Israel withdrew 2 year ago, Doha still feels their presence in the mines they left behind. She wants children to live without fear of mines and so seeks a career in mine clearing.
Documentary 2002, 18 min
Young Filmmakers: Mohamad Bazzi, Shahrazad Berri, Morshid Kazan, Mohamad Samhat
Creative Coordinator: Hicham Kayed
Production: Save the Children – Sweden & AL-JANA
100% Asphalt
This documentary narrates the unbearable and cruel life of street kids, through their own words and heartbreaking images. These children abandoned to themselves, facing violence, drugs and loneliness will reveal their stories in front of the camera. They have chosen the street's misery and aggression to escape domesic violence: a father that beats, an unloving mother, an uncle that rapes or a brother that hates.
Documentary 2002, 26 min
Direction: Carol Mansour
Production: Forward Productions
Wabadeen (What More?!)
Human Rights improved people's quality of life. However injustice is committed everyday. Who can tame the power of a revolution?
Documentary 2002, 11 min
Scenario: Halim Sabbagh and Myriam Sassin
Direction: Halim Sabbagh (17 years old)
Only If It's Possible
We see many disabled people with special needs, but we don't know the difficulty they face, especially the kids. Khaleel is one of them.
Documentary 2002, 4:30 min
Young Team: Bashar Zarour, Rand Safi, Rand Khader, Majd Kafri, Mohamad Halahleh, Mohamad al-Natsheh
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
Ya Wlad Haretna (Our Neighborhood's Children)
Every neighbourhood everywhere has its own game, but what brings them together is the right to play in safety and freedom.
Documentary 2002, 6:15 min
Young Team: Nisreen Badran, Zuhdi Nakhleh, Aya Asi, Samer Asi, Saja Jamal, Ezat Badran
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
I Wish
During our childhood, we can know our real interests, and it gets better when we start to develop them. That's why opportunities should be available for every body.
Documentary 2002, 7 min
Young Team: Marah Yasin, Ahed Rasheed, Jamal Majdy, Razan al-Aza, Ala' Rizek
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
Salymly ‘Aleh (Say hello from me)
When one's homeland faces a difficult period, people's lives are affected and sometimes emigration is an option… but there are some people who know what it means to be an immigrant and won't try it again.
Documentary 2002, 9:20 min
Young Team: Nada Enab, Saly Al-Natsha, Dalya Al-Khatib, Ala' Jawad, Reem Juda
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
Shaheed and Malak
What do the rights of expression, education and proper housing mean when the right to life is violated and when photos become the only means to talk about these lives. Shaheed and Malak - “A smile for immortality”.
Documentary 2002, 5:25 min
Young Team: Israr Ibraheem, Shatha Al-Khalili, Mohammad Sarhan, Hazem Abu Irmaneh
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
‘Inna Kalam (We Have Something to Say)
I'm sure there is a solution, but first we have to know that physical and moral violence is a problem… a big one.
Documentary 2002, 9:30 min
Young Team: Abd Al-Jawad Hamayel, Safa' Halahleh, Mahomoud Al-Natsheh, Samy Zarour, Hurieh Sa'adeh
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
Counting Stars
I really wish my parents would understand that kids have their own personalities and way of living.. if they would only remember their own chidlhood they wouldn't have treated us like this.
Feature 2002, 4:30 min
Young Team: Youssef al-Amour, Mai Barghouthy, Amer Dereyeh, Majd Bakeer, Thaer Rumaneh
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
The Ibdaa Mural
The youth document the creation of the mural painted on the walls of the Ibdaa Cultural Center over the summer of 2001. The mural was created by artists from the US working with young artists from Dheisheh camp.
Documentary 2001, 11 min
Young Filmmakers: Intima' Abbas, Hala Khaled, Majd abu Joudeh, Tamer Imad, Hanine Yasser
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
Our Nights and Our Mornings
An experimental piece that explores the youth's night time dreams and morning thoughts.
Experimental 2001, 3:30 min
Young Filmmakers: Ahmed Naef, Majd Abu Joudeh, Hala Khaled, Wael Khairallah, Sana So'ud, Raed Kana'an, Tamer Imad, Hanine Yasser, Marwa Abu Alia & Intima' Abbas
The Cinema Production Center, Ramallah
A Day in a Village Life
Six girls aged 12-15 years present their village which they love and cherish, Kufr Ni'meh. In this film we see the details of life in a Palestinian village, including the agricultural seasons, the village houses, as well as the old part of the village which was destroyed before the film was finished. We begin with the old houses and end with an image of their destruction. This film is Qalb el Umur Project of the Arab Education Forum.
Documentary 2001, 7 min
Young Filmmakers: Manar Nayef, Iman Abed, Dayana Fahmi, Tahani Soliman & Salam Al-Deek
Production: Qalb el Umur Project of the Arab Education forum
Premier Noel (First Christmas)
In the 1960s, Rafik a 7 year-old Tunisian bo, comes to France and hears about Santa Claus at school. When he returns home, he tells his family the fabulous story of the night of the 24th December. After a slight hesitation, the family writes a letter to Santa Claus, decorates the chimney, has a turkey dinner and waits for the old man with the white beard to fill their Tunisian slippers with presents.
Fiction 1999, 16min
Direction: Kamal Cherif
El-Maguito (The Small Magician)
A fight among magicians.
Pixilation 1996, 2:03 min
Production: Taller de Cine ' E l-Mate' Primera Escuela De Cine Infantil Y Juvenil
Tenemos Derechos (We Have Our Rights)
TV spots made by children .
Production: Taller de Cine ' E l-Mate' Primera Escuela De Cine Infantil Y Juvenil
Tierra No Reciclable “Non-Recyclable Earth”
The earth is being destroyed.
Animation 1998, 1:20 min
Production: Taller de Cine ' E l-Mate' Primera Escuela De Cine Infantil Y Juvenil
El-Rey Blanco (The White King)
A pirate and his mate find a treasure map and sail off to look for it.
Animation 1998, 8:12 min
Production: Taller de Cine ' E l-Mate' Primera Escuela De Cine Infantil Y Juvenil
La Nave (The Space Ship)
A spaceship that survived, forgetting completely all her previous feats.
Cut-Out/Drawing animation 2000, 1'
Production: Taller de Cine ' E l-Mate' Primera Escuela De Cine Infantil Y Juvenil
A Puertas Cerradas (Behind Closed Doors)
A 23 year-old youngster is searching for any sign of his parents, who have disappeared without a trace during dictatorship.
Fiction/Documentary 1999, 4:17 min
Young Filmmakers: Cecilia Moreno, Mirella Hualde, Marcela Prieto, Irene Vásquez (14)
Production: Taller de Cine ' E l-Mate' Primera Escuela De Cine Infantil Y Juvenil
Bulb
A silent film with a surprising ending. Stylized and shown in sepia with an all original soundtrack.
Feature 2001, 8 min
Young Filmmaker: Stuart Smith
Ultimatum
Ultimatum was made as a result of basic film workshops funded by the Motor Accidents Authority in NSW, Australia. The aim is to teach the basic processes of making a film as well as producing a resource for the community about road safety issues.
Feature 2002, 13 min
Los Ninos Invisibles - The Invisible Children
Rafael, seven years old, full of love for Martha Cecilia, whom he wants to see closer without being noticed, undertakes the adventure of making himself invisible by following the instructions of a black magic booklet.
These instructions submit the boy to tests of bravery by wearing a scapulary of the Carmen Virgin. Once some requirements are fullfilled, whoever puts on the scapulary around his neck will become invisible. Everything should happen inside a cemetery, by midnight; a terrible place and time. This is why Rafael decides to do it all in the company of his friends Fernando and Gonzalo.
Fiction 1997, 75 min
Direction: Lisandro Duque Naranjo
Lisandro Duque Naranjo was born in Colombia in 1943. In 1974, he started to write scripts and produce short films, documentaries and fiction, for which he has received various outstanding awards. In 1982, he wrote and directed his first film El Escarabajo, which won the prize for the best script, best director and best film, at the Bogota National Festival, in 1984.
Neelu-Peelu-Dheelu
By nature, ants are hardworking. The story revolves around three ants Neelu, Peelu and Dheelu. Neelu by nature is adventurous. Peelu is sensitive yet practical and Dheelu is a lazy soul. The story revolves around one of Neelu's adventurous missions to go to the Moon which is criticized by Peelu and Dheelu.
Animation 2001, 6min
Direction: Vinay Rai
Production: Leoarts Communication
Kanavu Malayilekku (To the Dream Mountain)
This film is about reclaiming dreams. Kanavu Malayilekku celebrates life, dreams and the journey of a group of tribal children to the mountain of their dreams. Kanavu is a unique experiment in cultural formation and learning that is unfolding in the tribal district of Wynad, in the Indian state of Kerala under the initiative of the well-known Malayalam novelist and theatre personality, K.J Baby.
Documentary 2001, 45min
Direction: M.G. Sasi
Production: Tomy Mathew
M. G. Sasi has wide experience in the medium of films, as actor, associate director, and as a producer. Sasi is also well known in theatre circles for having scripted, directed and acted in several plays that have won critical acclaim in India.
Log, Light, Louis
A short animation film in which a piece of furniture is designed for the film maker's son Thjeu. The tools, the material and the sawdust, seem to lead a life of their own. There is a happy ending when Thjeu finds his faithful pacifier in the furniture.
Animation 2002, 3 min
Direction: Ties Poeth
Production: Hans van Whesterlaak
From Grass to Concrete
Made by Aurdalslia School and the local office of culture, in Sandsli. The film shows the impact of construction and industrialization on the town. Roads replaced the fields. The inhabitants now suffer from growing traffic and deficient infrastructure.
Animation 2001, 6 min
I Have a Dream
The film shows the struggle of people in obtaining equal rights in a multicultural society. It preaches against the use of force and stereotyping.
Animation, 4 min
Young Filmmakers: Erlend Alsos Danielsen, Paul Andre Naess, Per Byhring, Anreas Blauw Hval, Julian Brustad
Little Norway
The film shows the complexities of mixed relationships. An immigrant girl dates a Norwegian boy, but keeps it a secret from her family.
Feature, 8 min
Si No Dius... NO (If You Don't Say... Not)
The relation of youth with Aids.
Fiction 2001, 5:25 min
Capelito Hairy
Capelito transforms into a peculiar sorcerer's apprentice who outdoes his master in creating an effective hair tonic; while the sorcerer only manages to grow one thick strand of hair on his bald head. Capetito conjures up amusing, colourful, bushy hairstyles to the delight of his master.
Animation 2001, 5min
Direction: Rodolfo Pastor
Rodolfo Pastor was born in La Pampa, Argentina, in 1940. He studied cinema and the arts at the “Universidad de la Plata”. In 1972, he founded the C.I.N.E Group (Educational Youth Cine). He created the “Expo-animation Workshop” intinerary in which hundreds of children and youngsters made their first efforts in animation in many Spanish cities.
Capelito Film-maker
Capelito and a large group of infant Mushrooms build a gigantic dragon with old boxes and they shoot an animated film in which the dragon swallows the children. Our hero acts as a medieval knight who defeats the monster. The boxes open up and the children walk out, happy and content.
Animation 2001, 5min
Direction: Rodolfo Pastor
Capelito Daddy
Capelito finds a large frying-pan in the snow, that soon assumes magical properties, believing that money and eggs are multiplied in it. Nevertheless, when hundreds of hungry chicks follow Capelito taking him for their Daddy, the pan becomes really magical judging by the quantity of popcorn that it produces with just one handful of maize.
Animation 2001, 5min
Direction: Rodolfo Pastor
Over the Moon
A modern interpretation of an old English nursery rhyme... “hey Diddle Diddle”. Made by Children ages 8 to 12 years from the Tees Valley Region of Enlgand.
Animation 2002, 2 min
The Human Body
Are you ready to learn about the human body? Science can be fun to learn when your guide can change shape and do other amazing things.
Animation 2001, 1:30 min
Direction: Jocob Rasmussen
Bees
The average worker bee only lives two weeks. This documentary tells one bee's life story in 36 sec.
Animation 2001, 36 sec
Direction: LeAnn Erickson
Fun Days with Jake
It started out as such a nice day - then the red ball got lost. The adventures that ensued incorporate a jump rope, a video camera and Jake's stuffy nose. Will he ever catch that ball?
Animation, 2001, 3:15 min
Direction: LeAnn Erickson
LeAnn Erickson has been collaborating with her son Jake on a number of animation pieces based on drawings he did when he was 4 & 5 years old.
Choori
Five-year-old Zahra buys a chick, but while she is playing, the chick's leg breaks. Despite her parents' disapproval, she decides to take care of it.
Feature 2001, 84 min
Direction: Javad Ardakani
Production: Farabi Cinema Foundation
Java Ardakani was born in 1962 in Mashad, Iran. He holds degrees in Technology (BA) and Law (MA). He has directed a number of plays and made a number of documentaries and a TV series with IRIB.
Mother
The love of a mother to her child is a feeling flourishing from the bottom of the heart. It's an intuitive sense rather than a rational one. Amir has a quarrel with his teacher and classmates while trying to prove the real value of his mother. His blind mother not only is not disabled but she is also very clever and kind-hearted.
Fiction 2000, 40min
Directed & Written by: Leila Mirhadi
Production: Inst. for the Intellectual Development of Children & Young Adults
Leila Mirhadi was born in 1963 and
is a graduate of Tehran Art University in Film Directing.
