Shoruq Organization Launched the 4th edition of Palestinian Refugees Festival
Shoruq Organization launched the fourth edition of Palestinian Refugees Festival in Bethlehem. The festival aims to convey the Palestinian message and enhance the efforts of Palestinian filmmakers. It focuses on short films addressing the issues of Palestinian refugees specifically and refugees around the world in general.
At the beginning of the festival's activities, Mahmoud Jibr delivered a speech on behalf of the Shourq organization. He welcomed the attendees, emphasizing cinema as a tool to expose the occupation and convey the message through film while also initiating internal change. Jibr explained that Shourq organization organizes this festival to discuss refugee issues in Palestine specifically and refugees in general from various perspectives.
He also highlighted that the festival focuses on rights and dialogue between different cultures. Jibr noted that the festival administration received 400 films for participation, reflecting the significant efforts made by the festival organizers.
Jibr thanked the festival organizers and the jury for their professional efforts in sorting the films and promised that Shourq organization would continue to develop the festival.
Following this, a promotional film for the festival was shown, featuring the different participating films from around the world alongside Palestinian films.
Subsequently, supporting institutions were honored, including the Al-Rawad Association for Culture and Arts, the Baladi Center for Culture and Arts, Al-Jisr Cinema, the Al-Nadwa Cultural Club, the Visionary Youth Association, and the Jericho Cinema Club, in recognition of their efforts in supporting the third edition of the film festival.
For his part, Hazem Al-Qassas, Director of organization , expressed the happiness with the large turnout for the festival's opening. He stated that the festival aims to promote cinema that highlights social and political issues concerning Palestinian refugees and encourages the creation of meaningful content about people's issues, as well as being a tool for positive social change.
He added that this year's festival goals include increasing cultural awareness and enhancing the role of art and culture in creating cinematic content that reflects the human rights issues of the Palestinian people both locally and internationally. Additionally, it aims to build a platform to discuss and focus on Palestinian productions and encourage their dissemination not only in Palestine but around the world.
The opening film was "Shirin," which tells the story of the assassination of journalist Shirin Abu Akleh and Directed by Ma'n Samarah