2010 Festival Program
The Houston Palestine Film Festival is proud to bring Houston another year of great films and thoughtful discussion with its 4th annual film festival. The unprecedented success of 2009’s festival program resulted in HPFF winning the Houston Press Best of Houston award for Best Film Festival!
And though 2009 was a good year for HPFF, this year’s program encompasses an even wider range of films that highlight the unique strength and struggle of the Palestinian people. Each night will focus on a specific theme, including an evening dedicated to the work and life of Mahmoud Darwish, a spotlight on Gaza, and a night honoring the spirit and beauty of women. The film screenings will be followed by special performances, including performances by M-1 (of Dead Prez), Sabreena da Witch, Michele Thibeaux, and Amir Bellamy as well as panel discussions and receptions.
The first weekend of the film festival will feature evening screenings at the Rice Media Center that begin at 7 pm. Sunday’s afternoon screening begins at 3 pm. The following and last weekend of the festival will feature evening screenings that begin at 7 pm at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Sunday’s MFAH screening will begin at 2 pm.
Thursday May 13 – ROOFTOP KICK-OFF PARTY – 7:00 PM
7:00 – 11:00 PM
$5
Featuring:
DABKA (traditional Palestinian dance)
DJ LOTUS
DJ JOE B
LIVE GRAFFITI ARTIST
ART INSTALLATIONS
FOOD
and more!
(see Facebook invite here: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/event.php?eid=119780444707222)
Special thanks to Network of Arab American Professionals
Films at Rice Media Center
Friday May 14 – 7:00 PM
SPOTLIGHT: GAZA
Featuring
“GAZA WINTER”
Ismail Habbash, Raed al-Helou, Najwa Najjar 2009
35 min
During the Winter of 2008-9, as Israel smashed into Gaza leaving over 1417 Palestinians dead and 10,000 homes destroyed, a few filmmakers living in Ramallah met in an attempt to channel their anger into a creative collective effort. They sent out a call to local and international filmmakers to contribute short pieces, and they had funds to support the first 11 of the many who submitted ideas. The result is Gaza Winter, a compendium of shorts.
Special guest M-1 (of Dead Prez): “From Gaza to the Ghetto”
Photo exhibit: “Gaza: Beauty and the Beach”
Reception hosted by Network of Arab American Professionals
Saturday May 15 – 7:00 PM
THE CHECKPOINT EXPERIENCE
Featuring
Checkpoint installation by Students for a Democratic Society of University of Houston
“A BOY, A WALL AND A DONKEY:
Hany Abu-Assad 2009
4 min
Three boys try to make a film.
“LIFE FROM THE BBC”
Jackson Allers 2009
15 min
This documentary follows two MC’s, Yaseen (20) and TNT (19) of the Palestinian rap group I-Voice (Invincible Voice) from the Bourj al Barajneh Refugee Camp (BBC) in south Beirut, facing constant electricity cuts in their small camp recording studio.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ4REXuPWmw
“CHECKPOINT ROCK”
Fermin Muguruza Javier Corcuera 2009
73 min
The spirit of poet Mahmoud Darwish infuses this documentary on Palestine’s vibrant music culture, from traditional singers to cutting-edge rap artists. Darwish’s writings comprise the inspiration for the lyrics of numerous soulful numbers as the film evokes a range of Palestinian locations through breathtakingly beautiful cinematography while presenting the music of Marcel Khalife, Dam, Khalas, Amal Murkus, Safaa Arapiyat, Walla’at, Habib Al-Deek, Muthana Sha’ban, Shadi Al-Assi, Sabreen, Ayman PR, and Le Trio Joubran. – Gene Siskel Film Center
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYWxf7cQ4D8
Live musical performances (co-presented by The Awakenings Movement):
M-1 of DEAD PREZ
MICHELE THIBEAUX and AMIR BELLAMY
SABREENA DA WITCH.
Sunday May 16 – 3:00 PM (matinée)
HONORING WOMEN
Featuring
“FATANEH”
Ahmad Habash 2009
30 min
Inspired from a true story, Fatenah، a Palestinian woman who lives in Gaza Strip. Her simple wishes were her consolation in the absurd living situation around her. But when she discovers a lump near her breast, she will start a journey to save her dreams.
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0QT1lc03uo
“MARIA’S GROTTO”
Buthina Khoury 2007
52 min
A gripping portrait of women, whose lives were dictated by a moral code, Maria’s Grotto is a painfully true film about the issue of honor killings in Palestine.
Director Buthina Khoury in attendance.
Trailer: http://womeninstruggle.com/videos/mg_t.avi
Films at Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Friday May 21 – 7:00 PM
REMEMBERING MAHMOUD DARWISH
Featuring
“9AAB (9 AUGUST)”
Talal Khoury 2009
13 min
A tribute to Mahmoud Darwish, the late master of Arabic poetry, this short, bittersweet film explores the aftermath of a death in both public and private contexts. — Dubai Film Festival
Director Talal Khoury in attendance.
“AS THE POET SAID”
Nasri Hajjaj 2009
65 min
This thoughtful documentary follows the life of the late Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish (1941-2008). The director tours where the poet lived, meets with writers, fans of his work, while including readings of Darwish´s works throughout. This heartwarming tribute is a fitting epitaph to a man whose words and dreams have inspired a generation. — 2009 Dubai International Film Festival
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9q84cXAyV0
Director Nasri Hajjaj invited (visa pending).
Cosponsored by the Palestinian American Cultural Center. A reception in the museum galleries follows the screening.
Saturday May 22 – 7:00 PM
CLOSING NIGHT
Featuring
“THE TIME THAT REMAINS”
Elia Suleiman 2009
109 min
Chronicling Palestinians who are branded “Israeli-Arabs,” living as a minority in their own homeland, The Time That Remains fuses the political and personal, the historical and the hysterical. Inspired by Suleiman´s father´s diaries and mother´s letters to family forced to leave the country, the film presents a series of sketches with precise, deadpan wit following one ordinary family in extraordinary times. — 2009 Toronto International Film Festival
Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmUPHXAC3Lk
Poetry Reading
Danza Azteca (Indigenous American dance / ceremony)
Cosponsored by the Arab American Education Foundation. A reception in the museum galleries follows the screening on Saturday.
Sunday May 23 – 2:00 PM (matinée)
Second Screening of THE TIME THAT REMAINS
