Palestinian cinema at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon

The Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon (FLUL), in collaboration with Nucivo, FLUL's Film and Video Centre, the FLUL Students' Association and the Movement for the Rights of the Palestinian People and for Peace in the Middle East (MPPM), presented the film cycle Voices and Colours of Palestine on 21 and 23 November.

The aim of this cycle was to promote a deeper and more humanised understanding of the historical, political and cultural reality of the Palestinian people among the academic community of the University of Lisbon and the Portuguese public in general—an understanding mediated by the original testimony of Palestinian creators and artists.

Voices and Colours of Palestine screened five films from the Unprovoked Narratives catalogue, generously made available by the Palestinian Film Institute and Sindibad Films Ltd.  Unprovoked Narratives is a catalogue of twelve films that celebrate the beauty of Gaza, its people, their struggle and their survival.  It is an initiative that aims to resist the demonisation of that beautiful place.

On 21 November, at FLUL's Amphitheatre II, two films were screened: Scenes of the Occupation from Gaza (1973), by Mustafa Abu Ali, a 13 min documentary; and Tale of the Three Jewels (1995), by Michel Khleifi, a 1h 52m fictional work.

On 23 November, at FLUL's Amphitheatre III, three films were screened: Condom Lead (2013), by Tarzan Nasser & Arab Nasser, an 11m fictional short film; Shujayya (2016), by Mohammed Almughanni, a 20m documentary; and Habibi (2011), by Susan Youssef, a 1h 8m fictional work.

The film screenings were followed by commentary and discussion, with the participation of Professor Nuha Alshaar, director of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Culture; researcher Carlos Almeida, representing MPPM; and representatives of Nucivo and the Students' Association of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of the University of Lisbon.