Fascinated by Palestine: Successful short film evening in Schwerin!

Fascinated by Palestine: Successful short film evening in Schwerin!

In the international house in Schwerin, the short film evening for Palestine was a complete success on June 20, 2025. The demonstration room was occupied to the last seat, and some guests even had to stand in the door. At this event, three impressive Arabic -language short films with German subtitles who addressed life in Palestine, especially the time before the current war, gave a unique insight into the culture and daily life of the Palestinians.

Sophie Atay, who initiated this evening, questioned the media representation of the Situation in the Middle East and emphasized how important the direct contact with the people on site was. "It is essential that we take a look behind the scenes and tell real stories," she said. According to Ataya, the films shown offer a fictionalized view of the Palestinian life, which is often lost in the often one -sided war reporting.

The films in detail

The first film, "A Jaffa-Orange" by Mohammed Almughhanni, runs 30 minutes and was released in 2024. The symbolism of the Jaffa orange, which is shown in the film as a cultural heritage of the Palestinians, symbolizes the deep connection to its country and the losses suffered in history. The story follows Mohammed, a young Palestinian who tries in vain to cross an Israeli control point, which brings him and the taxi driver Farouk in trouble.

"Feriyal", the second film, is a 4.5-minute short documentary essay by Sophie Atay. He tells the moving history of her grandmother, who had to leave her home in 1948 in the course of Nakba. The third film, "The Palestine Island" by Nour Ben Salem and Julien Menanteau, offers a reflective view of memory and everyday life with its 22-minute cinematic essay.

a platform for discussion

According to the film screenings, there was a lively discussion among those present. Many guests were interested in learning more about the background and the intention of the films. Food and drinks could be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere, while everyone exchanged the moving content. The event was free of charge and was organized on a voluntary basis, supported by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Sport Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania In addition to this event, a compilation of 22 short films from Gaza will be shown on January 30, 2025 in the Karlstorkino in Heidelberg. These films, which were made between December 2023 and March 2024, offer individual perspectives on the reality of war in Gaza and treat topics such as grief, will to survive and hope. Organized by Medienforum Heidelberg e.V. in cooperation with friends of Arabic art and culture e.V., the exchange and discussion should also be in the foreground. Further information on the films can be found on the website of the Culture Arabic.

The stories and experiences carried in not only open up new perspectives on Palestinian culture, but also invite you to deal with the challenges and reality of the people there. The need for dialogue and understanding is great, and events like this are an important step to build bridges.