Israelis-Palestinians: What Can Cinema Do? was the name of the first two editions of this biennale festival. The first was held from 26 March to 1 April 2003, quickly making its mark as an event not to miss, an event that can be qualified as the only biennale festival in Europe bringing these "enemies" together on the same programme.
Founder Janine Halbreich-Euvrard has been a film critic since 1974. That same year she organized - in Royan, France - the first third-world film festival ever held in Europe, already focusing on the Middle East, and of course, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She made a visit to the region in 2004, venturing to meet the filmmakers on their own territory.
By February of 2005, she had published a book bearing the same name, in which she recounts her journey interspersed with a series of interviews with some of the most prominent filmmakers in the region, including Sobhi Al-Zobaidi, Simone Bitton, Tawfiq Abut Wael, Mai Masri, Ram Loevy, Avi Mograbi, Georges Khleifi…The second edition of the biennale festival took place from 1 to 7 June 2005.
In the continuity of this strong beginning, the third edition took place from 21 to 27 November 2007. We recognised the need to widen our approach, for the whole area is implicated in this tragic and endless conflict and that is why the name of the event is now Middle East: What Can Cinema Do?.
Another new element for the 2007 edition was the debate+film daily screening, exploring crucial themes such as the Israeli settlement of Palestinian land, the tragedy of Gaza, that of Lebanon, the war in Iraq and the place of Women in Middle Eastern society.
For 2009, marking the festival's fourth edition, many of the themes will be revisited in new works by Middle Eastern filmmakers as the region shows no sign of improving. A new focus is added, that of Iran and the growing unrest among the young people.
Furthermore, Middle East: What Can Cinema Do? is no longer a film week, but rather runs over 12 days.
Held at the cinema Les 3 Luxembourg, art house cinema owners Gérard and Anne Vaugeois have played an essential role in hosting Middle East: What Can Cinema Do?. Their dedication to bringing thought-provoking films and filmmakers to meet movie audiences on a regular basis has guaranteed that the event and the venue have been in perfect symbiosis.
recent articles
Item posted : 29.12.2009
Press Clippings
The 4th edition of Middle East: What Can Cinema Do was talked about in numerous media.
more infoItem posted : 09.11.2009
Country by Country - The Program
50 films during 12 days are programmed for the 4th edition. Documentaries are in the majority, but more fiction is being presented than ever before including four "premieres". Two-thirds of the films are feature or TV length films, complemented by another fifteen short films. Here follows a country by country glimpse at the film program.
more infoItem posted : 09.11.2009
The Debates
A full program of debates, one each night, featuring Leila Shahid, Michel Warschawski, Dominique Vidal, Hassan Balawi, Christian Chesnot, Esther Benbassa, Jean-Paul Chagnollaud and very special guests Joseph Algazy (picutred here), reputed Haaretz journalist, and Stéphane Hessel, diplomat, ambassador and French resistant.
more infoItem posted : 09.11.2009
Poster photo
Anne Paq has been photographing Palestine since 2003. She is the photographer behind the photo illustrated in our poster for the 2009 edition.
more infoItem posted : 09.11.2009
A Word from the Festival Director
Two years ago, our editorial opened with the words: From anguish to hope. Since then, as far as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is concerned, the situation has worsened.
more infoItem posted : 11.11.2009
A Word from our Sponsors
A message from the Mayor of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë, and the President of the Centre National du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC), Véronique Cayla
more infoItem posted : 09.11.2009
Festival Committee, Sponsors and Supporters
Meet the people and organizations behind the event.
more info