These fifteen films are the products of two three-week “Peace it Together” programs that brought together Israeli, Palestinian and Canadian teen agers to Canada’s West Coast in the summer of 2006 and 2008. After skilled professionals facilitated communication skill building and intense dialogue, the participants were divided into small mixed-cultural groups.
The young filmmakers in each group were tasked to make a drama, documentary or animated short film about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Working with a filmmaking mentor, they had ten days to create their films from start to finish. The youths were responsible for all aspects of the filmmaking, from conception and story boarding, to shooting, acting, casting, editing, sound, and music.
Checkpoint of Humanity (3:48) [Drama 2008]
Made by: Chloe Clark, Zain Masri, Owen Quanstrom, Tamir Assouline
An Israeli and a Palestinian meet at a checkpoint. Flashbacks reveal the tragic circumstances in which they had met before and which now threaten both of their lives. Something changes for both of them when they are able to see the humanity in each other.
Turning the Lens (9:26) [Documentary 2008]
Made by: Zahida Rahemtulla, Nada Anati, Gal Shaked, Hanna Bishara
Participants explore how the mass media has contributed to their personal mis-impressions and stereotypes. They discover the power of engaging with their own experiences to shift paradigms through media.
Listen to This (2:14) [Animation 2008]
Made by: Itay Sasson, Jennifer Sarkar, Gilli Tohar, Mirna Yacoub Abu Abara
Two musicians living on either side of a wall compete to see whose music can be the loudest. When the noise breaks the wall between them they realize that by playing together they can make something beautiful.
Heaven Forbid (4:09) [Drama 2008]
Made by: Alex Boskovich, Katelyn Jmaeff, Shadi Mansour, Ryan Thom
Two girls, one Israeli and the other Palestinian meet on a deserted island. They have no memory of their past, but as their friendship blossoms they start to remember how they got there.
My Enemy (11:32) [Docu-Drama 2008]
Made by: Alex Rivers, Mohammed Abu Maria, Tom Leifer
Mohammad and Tom, two teenagers from Palestine and Israel, discuss the difficult issues that come between them. The more they talk, the more their friendship grows.
Freedom (2:25) [Animation 2008]
Made by: Jeremy Izso, Mohammed Qassas, Illy Auerbach
Hand-drawn paintings and meticulously rendered rotoscope images blend to create a poetic meditation on individual freedom and hope.
Burdened (7:05) [Drama 2008]
Made by: Avner Chamelnick, Majd Janazra, May Khen, Natasha Wehn
A young boy carries an unusually heavy load: a basket of stones. One by one, people from all walks of life come and take a stone from the basket while revealing their personal burden.
Inspired (10:31) [Documentary 2008]
Made by: Aya Abu Hamdieh, Omar Chu, Mahmoud Jabari, Ofek Ravid
Palestinian, Israeli and Canadian participants discuss the inspiration they found in each other during the Peace it Together summer program. They reveal what they learned from the experience and how they hope to make a difference when they go back to their own communities.
On The Line (7:49) [Documentary 2006]
Made by: Pirouz Nemati, Ala'a Abu Dawoud, Ragheb Askari, Yana Galfrin
A docudrama about a real friendship between two Israeli and Palestinian teenagers who met at a peace camp in Canada. Two years later, they meet at opposite sides of a checkpoint.
Sweet Like Chocolate (5:25) [Documentary 2006]
Made by: Kelsey Smith, Hadil Yasin, Nir Ayalon, Nadav Strumtza
This documentary captures testimonies exploring peace, freedom, and fear. Abstract visions are intertwined with future hopes.
Caped in Mist (6:25) [Drama 2006]
Made by: Sol Kauffman, Saray Yehiel, Alex deBoer, A'asem Abu Shtia
A short dramatic film about Israeli and Palestinian youth co-existing peacefully on a secluded island. After a shipwrecked teenager arrives to reveal the truth about the conflict, the youth come up with a peace plan.
(Mis)Interpretation (4:36) [Drama 2006]
Made by: Nadav Dan Goor, Bénédicte (Benny) Etienne, Maoz Nagauger, Razan Abdel Rahman, Ellis Tregidgo
This film is a non-linear drama that takes us into the world of assumption and presumption.
No Place for Dreamers (7:55) [Drama 2006]
Made by: Inbar Sofri, Ira Johnson, Nadir Abu Dalu, Saad Mahmoud
A video exploration of a romantic relationship between a Palestinian man and an Israeli woman. Using visual glimpses into their relationship, the film addresses issues in the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
These Are My Peelings (3:19) [Animation 2006]
Made by: Haneen Abu-Libdeh, Naama Avitzur, Chloe Edbrooke, Majdi Saleh Hafi
Represented by onions, Palestinians and Israelis discover what happens when they uncover their layers of pain.
The Carrot (1:52) [Animation 2006]
Made by: Gideon Scanlon, Maya Sharon, Muhammed Shaura, Ofir Vaknin
An animation about two rabbits fighting over a carrot. As the battle wages, the carrot is no longer important. It is all about who's winning the fight. The children are then left to make peace with each other.
Peace it Together 2006