Short Film Screening of "SUMUD" and Conversation with Director Dr. Jan Haaken

What does it mean to tell stories responsibly in the midst of genocide? When violence attempts not only to destroy lives but to control narrative and memory, how do we represent people who are still living and working under siege without speaking over them?

Following a screening of SUMUD, Director Dr. Jan Haaken will ground the conversation by reflecting on filmmaking as a form of social memory. Drawing from her work as an academic, activist, and documentarian, she will explore the ethical and relational principles that shaped the film — from centering Palestinian healthcare workers, to navigating narrative structure, to protecting patient and staff identities through participatory methods. Through the medium of film, she will examine broader principles of storytelling that honor truth, agency, and lived experience. From there, the space will open into a guided conversation. This is not a lecture-style session. It is a space for thoughtful dialogue — an opportunity to think together about responsibility in storytelling, how narratives shape collective memory, and how we resist erasure while maintaining dignity and care.

Together, we’ll invite your questions and explore themes such as:

• What does it mean to treat storytelling as an act of social memory?
• How do we center the voices of those most affected rather than positioning outsiders as primary narrators?
• What ethical considerations arise when documenting suffering in real time?
• How do we balance urgency with protection of identity and dignity?
• What responsibility do we hold when we share images, footage, or testimony during collective crisis?

Registration will be offered through a capacity-based donation supporting Glia’s wound care clinic in Gaza. In the spirit of shared responsibility, we ask each person to give thoughtfully and in alignment with their true capacity. Those who are able to give more help sustain the clinic’s work and keep access open for others.