Falasteen on Film: After Us

What was before and what will be in relation to our actions in the present? 

Falasteen on Film and Flatpack present a selection of 4 exceptional films by Palestinian visual artists that explore themes of rootedness and identity, memory and legacy in Palestine through different visual, narrative and conceptual approaches. We are also honoured to have Jasdeep Sandhu (Forij) an urban forager, ecologist and community educator, who will be leading a foraging workshop around our urban landscape. Through her role leading field trips with Forij, Jasdeep exemplifies how foraging transcends mere sustenance, becoming a transformative force for ecological consciousness and community resilience. We want you to feel connected to people and planet, no matter where you live. Jasdeep's dedication to foraging as a route to ecological harmony and social equity aims to set a powerful pathway for future generations, perfectly aligned with the themes explored in our curation of films.

The films:

Your Father Was Born 100 Years Old (Razan AlSalah, 2017, 7 mins) & Canada Park (Razan AlSalah, 2019, 9 mins) Surreal imagery from Google Streetview, Google Maps, Wikipedia and 20th century colonial photography are combined in two essays on displacement and the erasure of Palestinian history and presence (Your Father Was Born 100 Years Old, And So Was the Nakba and Canada Park).

In Vitro (Larissa Sansour and Søren Lind, 2019, 28 mins) is set in the aftermath of an eco-disaster. An abandoned nuclear reactor under the biblical town of Bethlehem has been converted into an enormous orchard. A group of scientists are preparing to replant the soil above.

Wild Relatives (Jumana Manna, 2018, 64 mins). When an international agricultural research centre was forced to relocate from Aleppo to Lebanon, its seeds needed to be replaced from the seed vault in Svalbard. Following this transaction of seeds, a series of encounters unfold a matrix of human and non-human lives between these two distant spots of the earth.

Timings17:00 - Arrival. Razan AlSalah's shorts, will be played twice on a loop for you to immerse yourself in, at your leisure.

17:30 - Foraging workshop will start. This will involve looking at readily available goods in our urban landscape. The foraging workshop will include an intro by Jasdeep, followed by a little mooch around by the corner at communal garden/for anything growing. You will have the option to create your own teas with pre-foraged goods (from nearby) and will receive a zine to take home. Light snacks will be provided to nibble on with your tea.

18:45 - In Vitro + Wild Relatives to be screened

20:45 - End

Falasteen on Film is a nomadic community cinema that showcases the best Palestinian cinema in Birmingham and beyond. They understand film exhibition as a form of resistance against the erasure that Palestinians face, as well as a safe space for community, culture and conversation.

Please note, the food provided will be vegetarian but we are unable to cater for vegans or those with gluten intolerances. The food may also contain traces of nuts.