A FILM festival dedicated to showcasing Palestinian cinema is set to come to Scotland.
The volunteer-run Falastin Film Festival (FFF) is set to spotlight the diverse stories of Palestinians at events in Oban, Mull and Edinburgh in May.
The events will take place both before and after Nakba Day – a day which commemorates the displacement of Palestinian people, which occurred when the state of Israel was created in 1948.
The FFF’s mission statement states that the festival aims to challenge preconceptions about Palestinian people and culture.
“Palestinians are too often summed up as an ‘occupied people’ as though they have no other stories to tell,” it said.
“Using cinema, primarily, as a tool of resistance we strive to decolonize the narrative.
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“Scotland’s exposure to Palestinian society, art, culture, and humanity altogether remains rather limited.
“We hope to contribute to filling this gap, using both classical and contemporary cinema, primarily, but not exclusively.
“We strive to challenge preconceptions of Palestinians as perpetual victims, highlighting instead their steadfast resistance, cultural preservation, stories of love, and in the words of poet Rafeef Ziadah, teachings of life.
“In so doing, we offer a refreshing portrayal, diverging from the global north’s mainstream narrative and shine a light on our shared humanity.”
The first portion of the festival will take place between May 9 – 11 between Oban and Mull.
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It will then head to the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh between May 24 – 26.
The festival will feature three events per day, with each event consisting of a film screening followed by a Q&A with the film’s directors or a panel discussion with guests.
It will feature a range of genres from fiction to non-fiction, comedy to drama, as well as short films and animations. There will also be events catered for children.
Every evening the festival will conclude with an event such as a food experience, photo exhibition or a music or poetry performance.
Organisers say all events are taking place in venues which do not collaborate with investors currently involved in funding Israel or its associated ventures in Palestine, such as the Edinburgh-based Baillie Gifford.
More information about the Falastin Film Festival can be found on their Instagram.
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