THIS PALESTINIAN LIFE is a low budget production. All funding for the film came from individuals rather than organizations or governments. Driven by a common belief that occupation is an unacceptable crime that must come to an end, an army of volunteers - both Palestinian and international - contributed time and effort to the process of research, production, editing, music composition and website design. And though the film was directed by an outsider, Palestinians were involved in every stage of the making of the film. Thus the telling is an interweaving of the observations of a stranger with those that live the reality depicted.
The production cost has not yet been covered and so we encourage you to donate towards this project in order to enable us to bring this story to people
around the world. This film is a small effort to add to the many that fight for change in Palestine.
To make a donation to THIS PALESTINIAN LIFE, click on PayPal link below:
To learn more about the production team and volunteers who contributed to this project, click on any of the links below:
PRODUCTION TEAM
Director & Producer - Philip Rizk
Philip Rizk is an Egyptian-German freelance journalist living in Cairo, Egypt, where he is currently completing graduate work in Middle East Studies and Anthropology. From 2005 to 2007 he lived in Gaza and worked with various NGOs carrying out relief and development projects. He graduated from Wheaton College in 2004, with a Bachelors of Arts in Philosophy. In February 2009, he was kidnapped by Egyptian state security for participating in nonviolent, Gaza-related protests (read more on this at: www.philiprizk.org). Philip blogs at tabulagaza.blogspot.com.
Philip first became interested in nonviolent resistance while taking a class on Gandhi, King, and Václav Havel at Wheaton College. In Palestine, the communities practicing sumoud (perseverance) -- one particular form of nonviolent resistance -- inspired Philip to make a documentary film to tell some of their stories. While living in the West Bank and Gaza, Philip began researching for the film and teamed up with seasoned producer and filmmaker, Iris Ichishita, and Julie Norman, a Ph.D. candidate in Palestinian nonviolent resistance."
Associate Producer - Iris Ichishita
Iris Ichishita has produced short and independent feature films, music videos, commercials, and documentaries since 2002. Iris is currently a video producer for EYES OF THE WORLD Media Group, which is dedicated to raising awareness to create positive change around the world. She has a BA in Writing from Westmont College and a MFA in Motion Picture Producing from the University of Southern California.
Iris first met Philip Rizk in Egypt in 1999. Moved by Philip's work in the Palestine, Iris signed on to produce THIS PALESTINIAN LIFE in 2005. After years of consulting, Iris once again made her way to the Middle East in 2008 to edit and associate produce what is now known as THIS PALESTINIAN LIFE: Village Stories of Sumoud and Non-Violent Resistance through her own Los Angeles based NN PRODUCTIONS.
Assistant Producer - Julie Norman
Julie M. Norman has a PhD in International Relations from American University in Washington, DC, and she is currently publishing a book on nonviolent resistance in Palestine. She has co-facilitated film/video workshops with youth in refugee camps throughout the West Bank (www.voicesbeyondwalls.org), coordinated a youth photography project in Bethlehem (www.contrastproject.org), and worked with human rights organizations in Cairo and Jerusalem. She has also taught courses on nonviolent activism, peace and conflict resolution, and culture and communication, and has written on media activism, youth and conflict, and gendered violence. Julie has held fellowships with the Palestinian American Research Council (PARC), the Jerusalem 2050 Initiative at MIT, and the Dickey Center for International Understanding at Dartmouth College. She has a BA in Media, Education, and Activism from Duke University.
Editor - Louly Seif
Louly Seif was born in Alexandria, Egypt in 1976. After majoring in Anthropology and minoring in film at the American University in Cairo, she worked in the field of development and human rights. While working for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Tajikistan, she directed her debut film Resurrection; a documentary about the effects of the fall of the soviet union and the civil war on Tajik artists. Since then she has directed documentaries and worked as an editor in several post-production houses in Egypt and Dubai. In addition, she worked as a freelance editor for several short fiction, documentary and video art projects among which is Control Room by Jihan Noujaim, The Purple Artificial Forest by Amal Kenawy and One in a Million by Nadine Khan. Recently, she started "Timeline" her own Cairo based post-production house and is simultaneously working on her personnel feature documentary.
CREDITS
Co-Director (Hebron) - Nayef Hashlamoun
Cameraman (Gaza) - Raed Kafarna
Field Sound Mixer (Gaza) - Mohammed Al-Zaeneen
Cameraman (Hebron/Jordan Valley) - Nidal Al-Attrash
Field Sound Mixers (Hebron/Jordan Valley) - Ashraf Kazaha & Ala Khoury
Sound Mixer - Mohammed Al-Hakim
Translation
Sabry Botros
Hassan Gomaa
Stephanie Brosch
Yasmeen Al-Khoudary
Arab Lotfy
Gaza Studio
Yusef Atwa
Emad Badwan
Mohammed Edwan
Ramzy Al-Sawalma
Ayman
Ramattan Studios
Qassem Al-Kafarna
Mohammed Salman
Abdel Salam Shehadeh
Azza Al-Kafarna
Nader Al-Shurafa
Gaza stock footage courtesy of Abdel Salam Shehadeh/ Ramattan Studios
Susya footage courtesy of B'tselem / Ramattan Studios, Gaza / New Vision Media Center, Bethlehem
Music Score
"Masar" from Majaz album - Le Trio Jubran
"Safar" from Psalms album - Khaled Jubran
Flute - Nader Ali Khan
"Takassim" from Mawasem album - Mohsen Subhi
"2nd Movement" from Jadal album - Marcel Khalife (composer, oud, vocals). Copyright: Nagam Records, Inc.
(back to top)SUPPORTERS of THIS PALESTINIAN LIFE
Wissam Abu Diab
Justin Alexander
Bishara Awad
Naser Al-Ardeh
Rana & Elias Al-Najjar
Jennifer Atala
Eva Bartlett
Corrie Blankenbeckler & Matthew Baker
Stephie Brosch
Jackie & Pete Bulanow
Christopher Capp
Jacques Derrida
Mouctar Diallo
Maria & Josh Eley
Annie & Jason Gill-Bloyer
Dolores Gimenez
Hassan Gomaa
Reyya Al-Haddad
N. & J. Hamamreh
Hilary & Jeson Ingraham
Fathi Khadarat
Yasmeen Al-Khoudary
Stina Kielsmeiers
Emmanuel Levinas
Jared Lebel
Joshua Lohnes
Malek & Nour
Siouxzie & Trent Morrison
Don Mosley
Diana & Hanna Michael
Ann & Pete Murphy
Wissam Nassar
Eunice Park
Steve Phillips
Christina Rizk
Jeannette Rizk
Judith & Maged Rizk
Maha Rizq
Tamer El-Said
Salma Said
Ryan Shiffer
Ray Shiffer
Dr. Attallah Tarazi
Liz & Omar Tesdell
Michael Yamine
Stephanie Yamine
Ben White
Amy Widener
Oliver Wilkins
Aubrey & Luke Yarbrough
