Short Films from The Freedom Theatre: Stories of Life and Resistance Under Occupation

with Felice Gelman, President, Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theatre
and
 Mohamed Haj Ibrahim (Skyped in), Multimedia Coordinator, The Freedom Theatre
 
Tuesday, May 23, 2017
12:30 to 2:00 p.m.
A screening of three short films from The Freedom Theater presented is presented by Felice Gelman and followed by a Skyped in session with Mohammed Haj Ibrahim. Journey of a Freedom Fighter is the story of one armed fighter who chose resistance through art. Maybe presents a young woman film student who fights for her right to pursue her dream and finds her inspiration in another who breaks with convention in a different field. The Racer tells the story of a Palestinian stock car racer who wins against the odds of occupation. 52 mins 
Felice Gelman has been a member of the board of Friends of the Jenin Freedom Theatre (FOJFT) since The Freedom Theatre’s founding in 2006.  FOJFT exists as the U.S. support group for the work of The Freedom Theatre, helping to fundraise for The Freedom Theatre’s operating budget and seeking opportunities to showcase its work in the United States.   This coming fall, they are bringing The Siege, a play about the 2002 Israeli siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, to the stage in New York City. Gelman has also worked with a filmmaker from Gaza to produce a prize winning full length documentary about the Israeli occupation and siege of Gaza.  

 

Mohammed Haj Ibrahim first worked at The Freedom Theatre from 2006-2010 as a computer teacher and later as a filmmaker and filmmaking instructor. In 2012 Ibrahim rejoined the theatre as a multimedia coordinator, filmmaker and graphic designer. He is responsible for coordinating the activities of the Multimedia Department and for designing the theatre’s publications such as annual reports, Voices youth magazine, brochures, and posters. Ibrahim has made many short promotional films about The Freedom Theatre’s activities and is also the director of the highly acclaimed documentary Journey of a Freedom Fighter, depicting the life of a graduate of The Freedom Theatre School. Before joining The Freedom Theatre, Ibrahim worked as a computer teacher in a youth organization in Jenin. He studied computer science at Philadelphia University in Jordan and has an office management diploma from Switzerland.