Creative Interruptions in Collaboration with OTO hosts – CHALLENGING ERASURE: RESTORING AND NARRATING PALESTINE

Creative Interruptions and OTO wish to offer this opportunity for artists and academics in Sheffield to meet and join a discussion about Palestine, give insight into the ways in which Palestine has been documented across the decades and expand the creative dialogue between Sheffield and Palestinian filmmakers and artists.

OTO is a practice-led screening and discussion group on current debates around the image. Through shared viewing and dialogue our aim is to investigate, probe and touch the surface, edges and centres of images through their modes of production, divergent materialities and the methods and systems of circulation. We will dig into and move beyond the idea of interpreting signs to explore current image manifestations, discourses and their media entanglement and exhibition praxis. OTO is led by Michelle Atherton and Rose Butler, Fine Art, Sheffield Hallam University.

Come and hear about the AHRC funded Creative Interruptions project and the work of Palestinian filmmakers from different parts of Palestine. Dr Anandi Ramamurthy (Reader in Post-Colonial Cultures, Sheffield Hallam University) will introduce the wider work of the project and its attempt to challenge the erasure of Palestinian cultures and film histories.

Places are limited and must be reserved by registering through Eventbrite here. Refreshments will be provided.

There will be a screening of Glow of Memories (dir Shammout) 11 mins

Film director Mahassen Nasser Eldin will talk about her work and the ways in which she has employed creativity to tell hidden stories and overcome the complex contexts within which they produce their work.

We will also introduce the work of directors Salim Abu Jabal and Yousef Nateel who have worked with the project. The new films produced by Nasser Eldin, Abu Jabal and Nateel will be screened in Sheffield as part of the Migration Matters Festival on 22 June.

Mahasen Nasser-Eldin

 

Jerusalem-born filmmaker Mahasen Nasser-Eldin tells stories of resistance and resilience, crafting carefully researched and scripted narratives that restore new life to forgotten figures and celebrate those on the margins of society. A meticulous researcher, Mahasen specializes in reconstructing and scripting historical narratives using audio and visual archives. Her research interest focuses on the use of film in the writing of historical narratives. Her films have screened locally and internationally. Mahasen holds an MA degree in filmmaking from Goldsmiths College in London and another MA in Arab Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She is a lecturer in visual cultures and film production at Bethlehem’s Dar al-Kalima University College of Arts and Culture.

 

Salim Abu Jabal

 

Salim Abu Jabal worked as a Journalist and Film Critic before pursuing a career in Cinema and TV. He has produced and directed several films, series, and programs. His first feature ‘Roshmia’ was awarded “Special Jury Prize” at Dubai Int’l Film Festival, “Grand Prix du Documentaire” at Festival Int’l Cinéma Tétouan, “Best Documentary, Open Eyes Award” at MedFilm Festival Rome and other awards and was also officially selected by IDFA 2015.

 

Yousef Nateel

 

Yousef Nateel is a Palestinian filmmaker/director from Gaza and founder and CEO of Skills Media Production. He holds a degree in TV arts and production and has worked as a filmmaker at PYALRA and Sharek Youth Forum. In 2012 he worked as production manager for Gaza 36mm and Sara, selected for Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF). In 2016, Yousef won a grant from A. M. Qattan Foundation and the Danish CKU, Supporting Contemporary Art Productions and Practices in Gaza Project, for the development of his film GazaGraph which he completed through Creative Interruptions.

 

Hussein Owda is a Palestinian film producer. Most of his experience is in Multimedia project management, he is a former CEO for Zaitoon for Animation and Video Games, and part-time multimedia instructor at Palestinian Universities. He has produced many projects including documentaries, animation, drama films and video clips. Hussein is the producer of GazaGraph, and hopes that this project will encourage dialogue and foster community links through giving insight into the ways in which Gaza has been documented across the decades.

 

Image credit: The Silent Protest – dir Mahasen Naser Eldin