ShortFilm competition
Palestinian Islands
France, Jordan | 22 min | 2023
Maha, a 12-year-old girl, is part of the final generation of Palestinian refugees from the Balata Camp. After seeing her blind grandfather faint, she imagines a crazy project: To make him believe that the Wall of Separation has fallen, thereby making a return to his native land possible. With the help of her friends from the camp, the young girl plans a fun trip for him.
Director:
Nour Ben Salem,
Julien Menanteau
Screenplay:
Nour Ben Salem,
Julien Menanteau
Cinematography:
Éric Devin
cast:
Sama Idreesi, Kamel El Basha, Leen Saleh, Toleen Al Risheq
production:
Topshot Films,
Made in Palestine Project
Directors:
NOUR BEN SALEM
After earning a master’s degree in cinema at the Sorbonne and enrolling in a TV series course at La Fémis, Nour Ben Salem went on to work as a scriptwriter for television and cinema.
She co-wrote the feature film HARD SHELL, SOFT SHELL by Emma Benestan (2021) as well as several episodes of the series Reign Supreme for Arte/Netflix. Palestine Islands is her first work as a director.
JULIEN MENANTEAU
After studying cinema in Montreal and at the Sorbonne, Julien Menanteau directed his first short film, RIKISHI, followed by SAMARITAN — a creative documentary shot over two years in Palestine, broadcast on Arte, and won a star from the SCAM.
LADS, his first fiction feature, has just obtained an advance on receipts from the CNC.