"Other Israel" Film Festival: "Coffee, between reality and imagination"

Last night I saw this series of 11 films by different young Arab and Jewish, Israeli, filmmakers from Tel Aviv University.
I will share my notes, impressions, questions and opinions soon.


==

Film description by the Festival:

COFFEE: BETWEEN REALITY AND IMAGINATION
Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers embarked on a journey to create short films, fiction or documentary, inspired by Coffee, which takes part in Middle East cultural identity and social reality. Coffee creates a connection between different people, no matter who they are. Each film gives a personal and courageous point of view on the reality in which we live in.

Other Israel Film Festival: World Class Kids

Last night I saw the film 'World Class Kids'. I will write here about it, and would love to hear your comments and have a discussion!

Yael

===
From the Festival's description:

WORLD CLASS KIDS
An Arab, a Jew, a Chinese, and a Philippine walk to school one morning…”—sounds like the beginning of an old joke, but that’s not the case. These are some of the second-grade pupils attending the Tel Nordau Elementary School, in the heart of Tel Aviv. The film follows the pupils’ interactions among themselves and with Meirav, their teacher. Meirav has to adapt the ill-suited educational materials, which are in contradiction with the needs of her classroom’s post-modern melting pot. The film follows the class throughout one school year, which becomes volatile as the Gaza War upsets the social dynamics in the classroom.

======

The Margaret Mead Film Festival - Nov. 11-14th, NYC

The Margaret Mead Film Festival , at the American Museum of Natural History, offers an opprotunity to watch documentary films by anthropologists about different cultures in the world and different cultural phenomena and to engage in discussions about it.

One of the memorable films and panels I've seen in this festival, in 2007, was about the new trend of user-generated content (UGC), and Web 2.0, as presented by Michael Wesch, assistant professor of cultural anthropology at Kansas State University.

This year, I will be volunteering for the festival for the second time

Here are a few films you may be interested in, that I plan to see:

Plug & Pray - an exploration of current Artificial Intelligence development and its critique.

In the Garden of Sounds- a blinded physical therapists helps developmentally disabled children transcend their sensory limitations through the healing power of sound.

=
Secrets of the Tribe- Exploring the observation and explotation of anthropologists of the Yanomami tribe of the jungles of Venezuela and Brazil, who were overly-researched by westerners. Conteroversial discussion panel will follow the film.

There Once was an Island- Papua New Guinea culture's fatal obstacles as global ecology and culture dictate a new world.

Even if you can't go see the films, check out the info, be informed, check out links for trailers.
Broaden your point of view of world cultures.

Festival Site

[originally written, 10/15]

There Must Be Another Way- Arab-Jewish, Israeli Duet

Duet of Arab-Israeli and Jewish Israeli women, singing together, representing Israel in the Eurovision song contest 2009.

NYC's JCC's film festival - "Other Israel" - will screen a US premier of the 70-min. film titled like the song, following this duo as they go to the contest after the military operation in Gaza, and despite criticism from left and right. There will be Q & A with singer Mira Awad.

===
About the song, from Wikipedia:

"There Must Be Another Way" is a song by Israeli singers Noa and Mira Awad, and was Israel's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2009, finishing 16th with 53 points. The song competed in the first semifinal on 12 May, qualifying for the final round. The song was composed by Noa, Awad, and Gil Dor, and contains lyrics in English, Hebrew and Arabic.^[1][2]

Awad, an Arab-Israeli, and Noa, a Jewish-Israeli, performed it together as a song that emphasises hope and understanding through common humanity. The singers describe "There Must Be Another Way" not as a song of peace, but as a simple call to respect the humanity of others.^[3]

The song also has a Hebrew title, "Einaiych" (Hebrew script: עינייך; English translation: "Your Eyes").

There was some controversy about the duo performing together for Eurovision in left wing circles in Israeli and Palestinian circles. Some felt it was hypocritical to choose them following the Gaza siege of January 2009, and that this did not reflect on the reality of life within Israel between those Israeli citizens who are Jewish and those who are Arab.^[4] In an interview on National Public Radio, Awad acknowledged this criticism, and said, "We're not naïve enough to think that we're representing any existing situation. We are trying to show a possible situation that we believe is possible if we just make the necessary efforts."^[5]

It's not about conflict, but about people.

Copy pasted from the "Other Israel" Film festival website:
==---------------------------------------------------------------

OUR MISSION

Founded in 2007, The Other Israel Film Festival uses film to foster social awareness and cultural understanding. The Festival presents dramatic and documentary films, as well as engaging panels about history, culture, and identity on the topic of minority populations in Israel with a focus on Arab citizens of Israel/Palestinian Citizen's of Israel, who make up twenty percent of Israel's population. Our goal is to promote awareness and appreciation of the diversity of the state of Israel, provide a dynamic and inclusive forum for exploration of, and dialogue about populations in margins of Israeli society, and encourage cinematic expression and creativity dealing with these themes. Our programming is guided by our mission to showcase quality cinema that brings to the big screen the human stories and daily lives of Arab Citizens and other minorities groups in Israel, often overlooked by mainstream Israeli society and culture.

LETTER FROM THE FOUNDER

The Other Israel Film Festival was founded to be a vehicle for cultural change and social insights into the nature of Israel as a democracy and the complex condition of the lives of its minorities that are living in the Jewish Sate. Israel's largest minority within its midst is the 1.7 million Arabs. In its 60 years of existence Israel has fostered another group of people who have put down roots in Israel and have born their Hebrew speaking children in its boundaries - Israel's 300,000 foreign workers. It is not about the conflict - it is not about taking sides - this festival is about people.

Film can be a powerful tool, it can show new sides, change perceptions, and evoke emotions. Through the use of film we are provided with a human dimension that extends beyond the daily news bulletins. Film can explore the deeper meaning of everyday living. Through these films, the festival aims to present the lives, dreams and strengths of the Arab minority and to show their participation in Israeli life. Foreign workers present a unique condition in Israeli society and we aim to familiarize our audience with the faces of "foreign workers."

I care deeply about Israel and its future. Growing up in a democratic Jewish state has without any doubt shaped the cultural and national identity of all of its inhabitants and citizens - who know no other home. These films and artistic expressions are paving the way to co-existence and a new, more inclusive culture in the Middle East.

Sincerely,
Carole Zabar
Founder

==

Other Israel Film Festival

Check out the Other Israel Film Festival Website

The 4th Annual Other Israel Film Festival, (www.OtherIsrael.org) will take place from November 11th – November 21st. Since its establishment, The Other Israel Film Festival showcases the diversity of Israeli life with award-winning films and open discussions on the margins of Israeli society that is rarely seen by the mainstream, let alone presented to American audiences. Among those are the country’s Arab population (Christian, Muslim, Bedouin and Druze) that makes up 20% of Israel’s population, as well as migrant workers, immigrants and more.






Films descriptions and schedule

Selected Films

WORLD CLASS KIDS
An Arab, a Jew, a Chinese, and a Philippine walk to school one morning…”—sounds like the beginning of an old joke, but that’s not the case. These are some of the second-grade pupils attending the Tel Nordau Elementary School, in the heart of Tel Aviv. The film follows the pupils’ interactions among themselves and with Meirav, their teacher. Meirav has to adapt the ill-suited educational materials, which are in contradiction with the needs of her classroom’s post-modern melting pot. The film follows the class throughout one school year, which becomes volatile as the Gaza War upsets the social dynamics in the classroom.

COFFEE: BETWEEN REALITY AND IMAGINATION
Israeli and Palestinian filmmakers embarked on a journey to create short films, fiction or documentary, inspired by Coffee, which takes part in Middle East cultural identity and social reality. Coffee creates a connection between different people, no matter who they are. Each film gives a personal and courageous point of view on the reality in which we live in.

"My So-Called Enemy"- Israeli-Palestinan attempts at bridging gaps

"My So-Called Enemy" is a kind-hearted exploration of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through they eyes of 8 young Jewish & Arab women who are meeting in America in order to bridge the gap between them. I found it to show a lot of the realistic mosaic of Israeli culture, showing both the despair of being unable to bridge the gap and the hope that it is actually very possible, at least starting on the personal level.

I was very curious to see this wonderful film at the Woodstock Film Festival a few weeks ago, sitting next to filmaker Lisa Gossels. I think I was crying half of the film because I found the subject to be very emotional and personal. I would really like to share my thoughts and feelings about this film with you, but it will be a challenge. So if you're interested, check again as I will post it up later on.

For now:Movie Website- Watch Trailer & get more info.

I recommend this film for opening a discussion about the situation, and for those who wish to understand more aspects of this all-too-famous story.

Read About Seeking Common Ground and Building Bridges for Peace