“But now a lot of local children are having to learn without adult supervision how to work in a studio and put together programmes. They know that these will be watched by all their neighbours, and that provides a wonderful education in technical skills and storytelling.”

Back in New York, though, there has been some criticism directed at the festival. There have been charges of bias and lack of the alternative point of view. But Annemarie is unconcerned.

“I’m like, ‘What? Do you want me to include Israeli films?

This is a Palestinian film festival!’ It’s strange just how threatened people feel just mentioning the word ‘Palestine’. “

But it is also pleasing that there’s been an awful lot of interest and attention from those who perhaps wouldn’t normally have an interest in this issue. The screening of Divine Intervention on Monday is already sold out. In fact, you could say that the controversy over the Oscars — which was disappointing but hardly surprising — has helped bring attention to the film, as well as the festival. We are all very excited about it.”

The festival started on Friday morning, at 9.30am, with Kais al-Zobaidi’s Palestine, A People’s Record.

E. Tailor

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Article reprinted courtesy of
The Palestine Chronicle
http://www.palestinechronicle.com