Special Pre-Election Screening

Iraqi Short Films
by Mauro Andrizzi (Argentina, 2008, 94 min, DigiBeta)

HOW WE FIGHT: CONSCRIPTS, MERCENARIES, TERRORISTS, AND PEACEKEEPERS
Curated by Irina Leimbacher, Kino21 (www.kino21.org)

October 30, 2008

Co-presented by Paul D. Miller (aka Dj Spooky) and Bidoun

The first installment in Kino21’s series that explores soldiering and war from the point of view of those on the ground, Iraqi Short Films is a compilation of short videos shot in the midst of war by American and British soldiers, Iraqi militia members, and corporate workers. These are not “films” per se. They are a mix of slices of life recorded on video (many shot while firing on the enemy or being fired upon), pithy propaganda pieces, and soldiers’ visions of war as just another music video.

Discussant to be announced

Click here to watch Trailer More

Chronicles of a Refugee
Directed by Perla Issa, Adam Shapiro and Aseel Mansour (USA, 2008, DigiBeta)

October 8 - November 12, 2008

Co-sponsored by Alwan for the Arts and Adalah-NY

Chronicles of a Refugee is a 6-part documentary series looking at the global Palestinian refugee experience over the last 60 years. Filmed in over 15 countries, with more than 250 interviews of Palestinian refugees who have lived in over 25 countries, the series aims to provoke debate concerning strategy and asks: ‘What makes the most sense for a strategy to achieve Palestinian rights as part of a vibrant and viable Palestinian national movement?’

With special guest speakers at each screening

Click here to watch Trailer More

Chronicles of a Refugee Episode I – “The Nakba Dailies”
Directed by Perla Issa, Adam Shapiro and Aseel Mansour (USA, 2008, DigiBeta, 79min)

October 8, 2008

Setting up the historical framework for the series, The Nakba Dailies recounts the events of 1947-48 in Palestine as experienced by those who lived them and explores how the Palestinian refugee issue was created.

Special guest speakers Pierre Dulaine, Dina Mikdadi & Adam Shapiro More

Chronicles of a Refugee Episode II – “The Daily Nakbas”
by Perla Issa, Adam Shapiro and Aseel Mansour (USA, 2008, 89 min, DigiBeta)

October 15, 2008

The Daily Nakbas documents the repeated expulsions of Palestinians from various countries and refugee camps around the world since 1967 until today and explores their impact on a community under constant threat of being made refugees a second, third or fourth time.

Q&A with director Adam Shapiro More

Chronicles of a Refugee Episode III – “Homeland Without ID”
By Perla Issa, Adam Shapiro and Aseel Mansour (USA, 2008, 79 min, DigiBeta)

October 22, 2008

Homeland Without ID looks at official discrimination against Palestinians in both the Arab and Western contexts and details how host governments treat Palestinians not from a rights perspective, but primarily from a “security” perspective.

Q&A with director Perla Issa More

Chronicles of a Refugee Episode IV – “Identity Without a Homeland”
By Perla Issa, Adam Shapiro and Aseel Mansour (USA, 2008, 78 min, DigiBeta)

October 28, 2008

Given sixty years of dispossession and refugee status, what does it mean to be Palestinian today? Grounded in the experiences of refugees themselves, this episode examines taboo subjects such as the role played by camps in contemporary society, the necessity (or lack thereof) of citizenship, and the impact of decisions made by those who will never be forced to live their consequences. More

Chronicles of a Refugee Episode V – “The Talk of Return”
By Perla Issa, Adam Shapiro and Aseel Mansour (USA, 2008, 78 min, DigiBeta)

November 5, 2008

The Talk of Return looks at the issue of right of return in terms of what has been done to achieve it over the years. Through interviews and archival footage, the episode explores the work of the PLO and various civil society organizations in the past, while also looking at how refugees today are responding to the lack of institutional progress on the issue More

Chronicles of a Refugee Episode VI – “The Return of Talk”
By Perla Issa, Adam Shapiro and Aseel Mansour (USA, 2008, 84 min, DigiBeta)

November 12, 2008

The Return of Talk explores the relationship of leadership and representation among Palestinians, notably Palestinian refugees worldwide.  Providing both historical context and debate over future strategy the film is a comprehensive look at the meaning of political leadership for a people facing exile, occupation and ongoing dispossession.  Given the importance of the 60th anniversary of the Nakba, this episode is a timely documentation, combing grassroots, activist and elite perspectives on the history and strategy of the Palestinian national movement. More

Heavy Metal in Baghdad
By Eddy Moretti & Suroosh Alvi (USA/Canada, 2007, 84 min, DigiBeta)

September 24, 2008

Dogged Iraqi band Acrassicauda (Latin for “Black Scorpions”) dream of living in peace as longhaired head bangers. Can death threats, car bombs, and having their instruments fall foul of a SCUD missile shake their resolve to bring heavy metal to Baghdad? More