AUDIOVISUALS & MEDIA > ISRAEL

A movie from Gaza to London: Awatifs mission impossible

n A frame from the film 5 Broken Cameras

www.enpi-info.eu A girl from a refugee camp in Gaza who wants to become an international movie director: it sounds like mission impossible, but its becoming reality for Awatif Aljedaili, from el Bourej refugee camp, whose film Waiting for Heaven was selected to participate at the prestigious 2011 IDFA documentary film summer school in Amsterdam. Thanks to the EU funded Euromed Audiovisual programme, Awatif could join training seminars via Skype, and she could send her rough cuts over the internet This is the story of a dream coming true.
Text by: Marc Weiss Photos by: Oliver Weiken and the Greenhouse project JERUSALEM - If making your first documentary film is an uphill task for aspiring filmmakers in the Middle East, for residents of the Gaza Strip it is almost a mission impossible. Thirty-year-old Awatif Aljedaili, a resident of the el-Bourej refugee camp, was refused permission by Israel to leave Gaza, and also had to combat hostility from Gazas Hamas authorities who feared her film would encourage emigration. But she fought against all the odds, and is now busy in London putting the finishing touches to her documentary film Waiting for Heaven, which was selected to participate at the prestigious 2011 IDFA documentary film This publication does not represent the summer school in Amsterdam.
ocial view of the EC or the EU institutions. The EC accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever with regard to its content.

Three generations of fishermen in a refugee camp

Aljedailis film focuses on three generations of a family of fishermen from the Shati refugee camp, and how each views the conflict and the concept of homeland. The grandfather fled Jaa in 1948 and still holds the key to the old family home, to which he dreams of returning. His son is too busy with day-to-day survival to dream of return. The grandson views heaven as anywhere but Gaza, and is desperate to leave.

ENPI Info Centre Feature no. 56

This is a series of features on projects funded by the EUs Regional Programme, prepared by journalists and photographers on the ground or the ENPI Info Centre. ENPI Info Centre/EU 2011

A movie from Gaza to London: Awatifs mission impossible ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 56

p.2

Tunisians were amazed to see the Israelis and Palestinians working so well together, and you wouldnt believe how many submissions we are getting from Gaza. There is an authentic need among artists in our conflict region for genuine dialogue, and this is what Greenhouse oers

n Sigal Yehuda, Managing

Director of the Greenhouse Development Program for Documentary Filmmakers

The idea was good, but without the Greenhouse project it would never have got o the ground. The EU-funded Euromed Audiovisual programme put Aljedaili in contact with Greenhouse, based in Tel Aviv, which assists filmmakers in developing their skills and introduces the film to the international market. Some 16 projects and 21 filmmakers from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Morocco and Tunisia were selected to participate in this years Greenhouse training project. Greenhouse runs three seminars throughout the year, providing a unique cultural space for Israeli and Arab filmmakers to connect and exchange ideas. Because Awatif was prevented from leaving Gaza, her brother, Mohammed, a resident of the West Bank, attended the seminars in her place and became the films producer. Awatif participated via Skype conference calls, and took part in all the key decisions that were taken. Greenhouse helped me a lot because even though I couldnt attend the seminars, I sent my rough cuts over the internet to Sigal Yehuda, the managing director at the Greenhouse Tel Aviv oce, and she sent back advice which was very useful, Awatif explained. At a critical stage in January 2009, with the deadline approaching to submit the project for a production grant, Awatif was forced to flee her home when the area came under Israeli fire during the Gaza war. Yehuda says the scepticism of some Arab participants for a programme openly promoting Israeli-Arab cooperation was overcome when they witnessed the work first hand. If you believe there should be no dialogue, then you leave no room for hope. I remember the Tunisians were amazed to see the Israelis and Palestinians working so well together, and you wouldnt believe how many submissions we are getting from Gaza. There is an authentic need among artists in our conflict region for genuine dialogue, and this is what Greenhouse oers.

n Emad Burnat the

director of the film 5 Broken Cameras

These people will never be able to say we didnt meet the other side, and the impact of this will last for years

A Palestinian and an Israeli filmmakers working together in Paris

Greenhouse has built up years of experience and provides young filmmakers with monitors at every stage of the films development, including artistic direction, film production and pitching the documentary to potential investors. Over the past five years, Greenhouse partners have included Dutch, Turkish, Spanish and Moroccan film institutes and production companies. Palestinian Emad Burnat and Israeli Guy Davidi are currently working in Paris with a French production company to complete their joint documentary film Five Broken Cameras. Another Greenhouse success story, the documentary was shot by Burnat who focuses on the struggle against Israels construction of the separation barrier in his West Bank village, Bilin. He shows how the campaign impacted on his day-to-day life, whether it was the death of a close friend, the arrest of his bothers or the growing up of his young son. Greenhouse suggested that Burnat work together with Guy Davidi, an Israeli activist filmmaker, who had also been involved with the Bilin struggle. What struck me the most about Emads footage was the scene of his father trying to block an Israeli army jeep taking his brother to jail, Davidi explained. When I saw that, it was clear that this film had to be made from Emads personal perspective. Five Broken Cameras won the best project award at the Greenhouse pitching forum in 2009,

Projects like Greenhouse are absolutely essential because the most dicult thing is for an aspiring filmmaker to get his first film o the ground

A movie from Gaza to London: Awatifs mission impossible ENPI Info Centre - Feature no. 56

p.3

n "Waiting for Heaven"

by Awatif Aljedaili

and the Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers hope the documentary will premiere in France next spring. Projects like Greenhouse are absolutely essential because the most dicult thing is for an aspiring filmmaker to get his first film o the ground, " Davidi explained. This is particularly the case in some Middle East states, such as Jordan, Egypt and Morocco where there are few opportunities and a lack of funding for local documentary filmmakers.

When you meet the other side, things change

Dorit Inbar, the director-general of the Tel Aviv-based New Fund for Cinema and TV, which initiated Greenhouse and is the projects leading partner, spoke proudly of its double impact. Firstly, this is a very successful project. Greenhouse after five years has produced 10 films which have won awards at festivals worldwide, and more than half our projects are still being developed. Second, are the relations built up between filmmakers from around the Mediterranean, not only Israelis and Arabs, but Turks and Kurds, and other nationalities. These people will never be able to say we didnt meet the other side, and the impact of this will last for years. And Inbar spoke proudly of the EU role. Without the EU vision there would be no Greenhouse, and the EU remains our most important strategic partner.

Euromed Audiovisual III

http://www.euromedaudiovisuel.net/
Contributes to intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity through support to building cinematographic and audiovisual capacity in the Mediterranean Partner Countries
Participating countries Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Occupied Palestinian Territory, Syria, Tunisia Timeframe 2009-2012 Budget 11 million Aims The programme aims to contribute to intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity through support for the development of cinematographic and audiovisual capacity in the Partner Countries. It promotes complementarity and integration of the regions film and audiovisual industries, while seeking to harmonise public sector policy and legislation. It builds on the achievements of Euromed I and Audiovisual II, aiming to tap into the potential of a developing audiovisual market in the region and assist Mediterranean films secure a place on the global scene. Find out more Project fiche Greenhouse > http://euromedaudiovisuel.net/general.aspx?menu=1&treeID=11139&lang=en&documentID=11144 Greenhouse website > http://www.ghfilmcentre.org/ ENPI Info Centre - Project fiche > http://www.enpi-info.eu/mainmed.php?id=301&id_type=10 Thematic portal > http://www.enpi-info.eu/thememed.php?subject=9

ENPI info centre info ce t e www.enpi-info.eu

www.enpi-info.eu p

The ENPI Info Centre is an EU-funded Regional Information and Communication project highlighting the partnership between the EU and Neighbouring countries. The project is managed by Action Global Communications.