A Chance Encounter Palest’In & Out
It's true! What you ask God for always finds a way to manifest itself; His way SubhanOH!
Since I have been clear in my heart about my commitment to exploring, understanding and sharing my precious culture, one fabulous opportunity arises after another that allows me to appreciate, honor and do my bit to keep it alive.
The Palestinian Film Festival, Palest’In & Out was a perfect example of this happy chance. I stumbled across its second run in Belle Paris!’ My visit to Paris conveniently coincided with the entire festival, treating me to a vibrant array of music, film, dance, poetry, art and discussion.
Recreate the atmosphere of this wonderful festival by playing the selection of music below as you read.
The festival’s organizer is an elegant, gracious and down-to-earth woman called Amina Hamshari. She is the daughter of a Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) representative who was assassinated following the 1972 Munich Summer Olympic massacre. She is making him, and us, proud. As the Arabic saying goes, ‘this lion cub is from that lion’. I took literary license with making the reference here to a female cub (ehhem), as it is known in Arabic language usage that the male rendition is meant for both genders. In this case, you could definitely hear Amina’s eloquent roar, loud and clear!
I went to the opening without fully understanding what it was, due to my limited French, but again, with luck in my favor, I was seated in front of a charming group of Palestinian women (tantes), to whom I quickly introduced myself, and found out that it was a full-blown festival, and I was at the opening!
The most vivacious lady of the group graciously shared her schedule with me, explaining each of the performances, where they were being held and what she personally knew of the artists. Not only was the festival to be presented with just the right amount of Arabic and English for me to understand, but it was also free! Ya Allah.. How civilized is that!! Bravo!
The opening night was a musical performance. It was the type of music that takes you to heaven on the wings of Arabic instruments and Palestinian mastery. Allah!
The music showcased such a level of skill and heartfelt craftsmanship that I could feel my heart being fed, reaching all the way out to Palestine and back again, happy and ever green.
The performance was started off by the Duo Sabil; with Ahmad Khatib on Oud, Youssef Hbeisch on percussion and, with them, Hubert Dupont on Cello.
I have such respect for craftsmen who go beyond what they know and grow up with, mastering their own and other great traditions, let alone when they turn to one that is known as an inferior one. Arabic culture is now seen as being at a low that may not pay true homage to the greatness of its musical tradition. Those in the know, know better. Hubert Dupont is one of those beautiful souls; a master who seeks to work with creative Arabic musicians to add just that bit of jazz!
They were joined by Saied Silbak on oud and Akram Haddad on piano. They spoke with the signature Palestinian acerbic humor and slow drawl. I love it!! That in itself is part and parcel of resistance. Just to give you an idea, I would like to share some titles of the pieces with you: (Tawwel Balak, wbaadein, bifrijha rabbak).
Another lovely surprise was the Gazan twins, Arab and Tarab, gorgeous and funky, with the same abundant humor, style and warmth. I saw their wonderful film Degrade’ in the Dubai International Film Festival. The film is set in a hair salon representing almost every kind of Palestinian woman in their daily lives and situations. Their films have a beautiful way of communicating a point without being ‘in your face’ political.
It was a night filled with warm, authentic Palestinian hospitality, art, kindness, pride and comradeship; all the more magical for it being unplanned!
My intention is that next year it is, ‘in Sha Allah’. Come along!
ABOUT Palest’In & Out:
It is a major festival of contemporary Palestinian art, held in Paris, which celebrates the emerging Palestinian scene across borders. It was established with a purpose of disrupting Palestinian stereotypes through showcasing the culture’s wider references and human concerns. Its first run was such a resounding success, that this year’s program also included events in Jerusalem, Ramallah, Nablus, Jericho, Gaza and Haifa, and next year it’s moving to Palestine!
Young artists under the age of 35 are selected by an expert international committee to participate in concerts, performances, projections, master-classes, meetings and workshops alongside their older counterparts in the spirit of collaboration and solidarity among artists of different generations.
To research the other artists who were invited to participate in the festival:
The guest artists included, Hiam Abbass, Noor Abu Arafeh, Mahmoud Abu Ghalwa, Mohamed Al-Dirawi, Mahmoud Al-Kurd, Ismail Al-Rozzi, Yazid Anani, Qais Assali, Mirna Bamieh, Fawda, Alaa Ghosheh, Akram Haddad, Youssef Hbeisch Zakaria Mohammed, Dima Hourani, Yousef Hbeisch, Kamilya Jubran, Mohammed Khalil, Safaa Khatib, George Khleifi, Randa Maddah, Jumana Mustafa, Mohammed Najem, Amer Nasser, Ameen Nayfeh, Deneth Piumakshi, Saied Silbak, Ruba Shamsoum, Skywalker, Vera Tamari, Hani Zurob.
Organised By
The Artists
The Music
The Gazan Twins - In pursuit of creating a film industry in Gaza
In Gaza, the film industry is non-existent. But that hasn’t stopped identical Gazan twins, Palestinians Ahmed and Mohamed Abu Nasser, nicknamed Arab and Tarzan, from pursuing their dream to create a feature-length film.
Follow their amazing journey in pursuit of creating a film industry in Gaza that takes them to America, where they enter a cinema for the first time and have the unique privilege of the first film they watch being their own.
Then witness as their dream becomes a reality with their film, Degrade, that tells the story of two hairdressers and ten customers of various ages and backgrounds in Gaza that spend the day trapped in a beauty salon while Hamas police fight a gang in the street.
The Other Artists
The guest artists included, Hiam Abbass, Noor Abu Arafeh, Mahmoud Abu Ghalwa, Mohamed Al-Dirawi, Mahmoud Al-Kurd, Ismail Al-Rozzi, Yazid Anani, Qais Assali, Mirna Bamieh, Fawda, Alaa Ghosheh, Akram Haddad, Youssef Hbeisch Zakaria Mohammed, Dima Hourani, Yousef Hbeisch, Kamilya Jubran, Mohammed Khalil, Safaa Khatib, George Khleifi, Randa Maddah, Jumana Mustafa, Mohammed Najem, Amer Nasser, Ameen Nayfeh, Deneth Piumakshi, Saied Silbak, Ruba Shamsoum, Skywalker, Vera Tamari, Hani Zurob.
One thought on “A Chance Encounter Palest’In & Out”
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