JTA: Documentary on coexistence work may inspire others, filmmakers hope

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http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=17135&intcategoryid=1

Documentary on coexistence work may inspire others, filmmakers hope
By Sue Fishkoff
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 6 (JTA) — After years of intifada, the election of Hamas to run the Palestinian Authority and this summer’s war with Hezbollah, there’s little trust left between Israelis and Palestinians.

Ronit Avni wants to change that.

The 29-year-old Canadian-Israeli film director/producer is part of the team behind “Encounter Point,” a quiet but powerful new documentary about Israelis and Palestinians who have suffered terrible personal losses but are pushing past their pain to move their communities in the direction of peace.

Avni’s partners include Brazilian co-director and writer/editor Julia Bacha and producers Joline Makhlouf, the first Palestinian woman pilot, and American-born Nahanni Rous. The four young women hope their film will move others to push for peace as well.

“Encounter Point” was shot in Israel and the Palestinian territories over a 16-month period. It follows eight narratives, including the story of Robi Damelin, an Israeli woman whose soldier son was killed by a Palestinian sniper; Tzvika Shahak, who lost his 15-year-old daughter in a Tel Aviv suicide bombing; and Ali Abu Awaad, who served time in an Israeli jail and whose brother was killed by Israeli soldiers.

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These people disagree politically, though they all come together on one point: If they don’t talk to each other, the cycle of violence will continue.

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more at http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=17135&intcategoryid=1


Related links:
http://www.justvisions.org/
http://www.encounterpoint.com/