Loading ...Palestinian Film, “Ground Zero” Leads Arab Submissions to the Academy Awards
By: Nissrine Bedda / Arab America Contributing Writer
In recent weeks, the Academy Awards revealed their shortlist of films, sparking significant excitement across the Arab world, especially with the inclusion of the Gaza-directed documentary From Ground Zero. This powerful documentary captures the stories of 22 Gazans whose lives were profoundly transformed after October 8, 2023. These previously untold narratives are both heart-wrenching and gripping, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the raw realities faced by Gazans.
Our Arab community has the gift of storytelling, and what better way to visualize it than by creating films to capture our essence. Four Arab films made the shortlisted entries for the Academy Awards for this years Oscars, with three being Palestinian-directed and one being Egyptian.
Best International Film
From Ground Zero by Rashid Masharawi – Palestinian Directed
Watermelon Pictures, the Palestinian-owned independent film company, leaves viewers with a sense of perspective while exposing us to the enriching perseverance of the Palestinian people and identity that continue to demonstrate their resilience.
For Best Documentary
No Other Land by Yuval Abraham and Basel Adra – Palestinian-Israeli Directed
In the world of journalism, we see how the connection between writing and activism have a greater connection than most of the world would seem to think. By the end of the film, these directors leave us with a moment of reflection to allow us to come to a feeling of hope for a stronger future for Palestinian welfare.
Hollywoodgate by Ibrahim Nash’at – Egyptian Directed
“Immediately after the US pullout from Afghanistan, Taliban forces occupied the Hollywood Gate complex, which is claimed to be a former CIA base in Kabul.“From Ground Zero by Rashid Masharawi
Understanding the ins and outs of the Taliban, we see through this film are there are two truths that media and filmmakers would like to capture. One shows the depiction the Taliban would like to prove to the rest of the world, while the filmmaker captures the harsh reality leaving you on the edge of your seat for what’s to come in Afghanistan.
This entry has enabled our Arab community to highlight Palestinian-directed cinema, particularly during times when we have felt most targeted by media narratives. This positive shift in the film industry brings hope and serves as a powerful reminder that exposing the realities of Western-imposed violence in the Arab world—especially in Palestine—has finally gained visibility, offering global audiences a sense of reality.
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