Witness Palestine Film Festival, 2017

Coming soon: 2017 Witness Palestine Film Festival.

Now in its sixth year, the Witness Palestine Film Festival seeks to enlighten and
entertain us with films and events about the people of Palestine:
their culture, their situation, and their struggle. Complete
information about the Festival is available at
www.WitnessPalestineRochester.org

Sunday, September 10, 2:00 p.m. – The Festival begins with a
keynote address, “The Future Must First Reckon with Our Past” by
Susan Abulhawa, author of the books “Mornings in Jenin” and “The Blue Between Sky and Water”. There is no
charge. This event will be at the Rochester Academy of Medicine, 1441 East Avenue.

Thursday, Sept. 14, 9:00pm and Thursday, September 28, 7:30 p.m. – Part of the KeyBank Rochester Fringe Festival
and produced as a staged drama with script in hand, “There is a Field” is based on a true story about a medical student who
finds herself in turmoil as she tries to find answers to how her brother, a peace activist, was killed by police nearby a
Palestinian protest. At the MuCCC (Multi-Use Community Cultural Center), 142 Atlantic Avenue. Tickets are $10 (see
www.WitnessPalestineRochester.org for ticket purchase info).

Festival Screening Locations: There will be four screenings at The Little Theatre in theater #5, admission $10 ($5
students). The fifth and last screening event will be at St. John Fisher College, Basil Hall, Room 135 (free and
open to the community). All screenings will be followed by audience discussion with knowledgeable panelists.

Junction 48 – Sunday, September 17, 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. This award-winning narrative tells the story of the
Palestinian-Israeli conflict through the eyes of two young lovers who share a passion for hip-hop music. Through
the music they perform, the actors show us the Palestinian community in the Israeli city of Lod – one of poverty
and crime.

Gaza in Context and Gaza Fixer: a Chronicle of Survival – Monday, September 18, 6:45 – 9:15 p.m. The
documentary “Gaza in Context” helps us understand the tragedy that has befallen Gaza, while “Gaza
Fixer” tells the story of Raed Atharmneh, a six-time war survivor, patriarch, and trusted news resource –
a ‘fixer’ – for foreign reporters who are covering Gaza. 

Eyes of a Thief – Sunday, September 24, 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. Emerging from an Israeli prison after many years,
water engineer Tareq returns home in search of his wife and daughter. Although he learns that his wife is dead,
he is determined to find his daughter alive. In this psychological thriller, none of the characters are mere
ideological mouthpieces, and nobody is all sinner or saint, Tareq least of all.

Occupation of the American Mind – Monday, September 25, 6:45 – 9:15 p.m. This documentary takes an
informative look at how public relations efforts have shaped U.S. public opinion towards Israel since the 1980s.

Disturbing the Peace – Monday, October 9, 6:30 p.m. (St. John Fisher College, Basil Hall, Room 135). “Disturbing
the Peace” follows former enemy combatants - Israeli soldiers from elite units and Palestinian fighters, many of
whom served years in prison - who have joined together to challenge the status quo and say ‘enough.’ The
documentary reveals their transformational journeys from soldiers committed to armed battle to nonviolent