Fascinated by Palestine: Successful short film evening in Schwerin!

Fascinated by Palestine: Successful short film evening in Schwerin!

The short film evening about Palestine in the International House in Schwerin on June 20, 2025 was a complete success. The screening room was packed to capacity, and some guests even had to stand in the doorway. Three impressive Arabic-language short films with German subtitles were shown at this event, which focused on life in Palestine, especially the period before the current war, and thus gave a unique insight into the culture and daily life of the Palestinians.

Sophie Ataya, who introduced the evening, questioned the media portrayal of the situation in the Middle East and emphasized the importance of direct contact with the local people. “It is essential that we look behind the scenes and tell real stories,” she said. According to Ataya, the films shown offer a fictionalized view of 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 Almughanni, runs 30 minutes and was released in 2024. The symbolism of the Jaffa orange, portrayed in the film as a cultural heritage of the Palestinians, symbolizes the deep connection to their land as well as the losses suffered throughout history. The story follows Mohammed, a young Palestinian who tries in vain to cross an Israeli checkpoint, which lands him and taxi driver Farouk in trouble.

“Feriyal,” the second film, is a 4.5-minute short documentary essay by Sophie Ataya. He tells the moving story of her grandmother, who had to leave her homeland in 1948 during the Nakba. The third film, “The Palestine Island” by Nour Ben Salem and Julien Menanteau, offers a reflective look at memory and everyday life with its 22-minute-long cinematic essay.

A platform for discussion

After the film screenings, there was a lively discussion among those present. Many guests were interested in learning more about the background and intention of the films. Food and drinks could be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere while everyone discussed 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 of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

In addition to this event, a compilation of 22 short films from Gaza will be shown on January 30, 2025 at the Karlstorkino in Heidelberg. These films, made between December 2023 and March 2024, offer individual perspectives on the reality of war in Gaza and deal with themes such as grief, the will to survive and hope. Organized by Medienforum Heidelberg e.V. in cooperation with Friends of Arabic Art and Culture e.V., the focus here will also be on exchange and discussion.
Further information about the films can be found on the [Culture Arabe] website (https://barenkultur.de/8-freunde-araben-kunst-kultur-e-v/102-from-ground-zero-the-untold-stories-from-gaza).

The stories and experiences brought in not only open up new perspectives on Palestinian culture, but also invite you to take a closer look at the challenges and reality of the people there. The need for dialogue and understanding is great, and events like this are an important step in building bridges.