The 36th Galway Film Fleadh, running from July 9-14 at the Town Hall Theatre and Pálás Cinema, will spotlight Palestinian cinema in its Country of Focus strand. Among the standout events is the Irish premiere of “To a Land Unknown,” which will close the festival on July 14.
“To a Land Unknown,” a film from the Cannes Film Festival parallel strand Directors’ Fortnight, follows the gripping journey of Palestinian cousins Chatila and Reda as they attempt to reach Germany, only to find themselves ensnared in a series of uncontrollable events. Variety praises the film as “crafted with tremendous empathy.” Director Mahdi Fleife will attend the screening on July 14.
The feature film “We No Longer Prefer Mountains” will screen on July 10. The film delves into the political and social condition of the Druze minority in northern Palestine. Through direct, candid exchanges, often spoken directly to the camera, the protagonists of the film share their lived experience of the policies that were implemented to divide them from the larger indigenous community. The film explores how the inner politics of the Druze have been reconfigured and reshaped since 1948. Director Inas Halabi will be present for the screening.
On July 12, the festival will screen “The Teacher,” a compelling feature debut from Oscar-nominated director Farah Nabulsi. The film stars award-winning actor Saleh Bakri as a Palestinian school teacher who is torn between his life-threatening commitment to political resistance and his personal relationships, including his emotional support for one of his students and a budding romance with a volunteer worker played by Imogen Poots.
The narrative intertwines with the story of an American couple, played by Stanley Townsend and Andrea Irvine, seeking the return of their son who has been held hostage for three years. Nabulsi and the cast will attend the screening.
“Screwdriver,” set to screen on July 14, tells the story of Ziad, who struggles to adjust to modern Palestinian society as the hero everyone hails him to be after 15 years of imprisonment. He battles to distinguish reality from hallucination, ultimately driving himself back to his past.
The documentary “No Other Land,” which won several awards at CPH:DOX and Berlinale, will be screened on July 11. It follows Basel Adra, a young Palestinian activist from Masafer Yatta, who has been fighting his community’s mass expulsion by the Israeli occupation since childhood. Basel documents the gradual erasure of Masafer Yatta as soldiers destroy the homes of families. He crosses paths with Yuval, an Israeli journalist who joins his struggle, and for over half a decade they fight against the expulsion while growing closer.
Maeve McGrath, Director of Programming, emphasized the significance of featuring Palestinian cinema at this year’s Fleadh. “The quality of these films underpinned the decision to showcase the work of film artists who bring the stories of Palestine to the screen. In screening films made in and about Palestine, we provide a space for these films to be seen by a larger audience while also showing support and solidarity with the Palestinian people.”
To book tickets, visit galwayfilmfleadh.com or contact the Town Hall Theatre box office on 091 569777.??
The Galway Film Fleadh is supported by the Arts Council, Screen Ireland, Failte Ireland and Galway City Council.?
