11 September 2022:
Short film Bethlehem 2001 by Ibrahim Handal participates in the 2nd edition of Marrakech Short Film Festival (from 23 to 30 September). The festival is held under the patronage of the ministry of youth, culture, and communication.
The festival aims to bridge the gap between the short film industry and Marrakech, it also seeks to highlight the value of local talents by screening their short films simultaneously with films by international directors. It also aims to create a platform to enhance the production industry of short films, aside from valuing the legacy of abandoned cinema theaters in Morocco.
Bethlehem 2001 world premiered at Locarno Film Festival and competed in the international competition of Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, France. It received a Special Jury Mention at MedFilm Festival and participated in the Cinéma de la Paix Festival. It also went on to screen at Arab film festivals; Ajyal Film Festival, Alexandria Film Festival, and Palestine Cinema Days.
The film follows the story of a young Palestinian who wanders between his reflections on the current status and his childhood memories of the military invasion and siege of Bethlehem. He tries to understand how his parents led him through those difficult times, hoping that such memories would help him cope with the present.
Written and directed by Ibrahim Handal, the film stars Muhammad Mughrabi, Yousef AbuShkhaidem, Hind AbuShkhaidem, Tarek Abusalameh, and Karam Al-Salaymeh. MAD Solutions handles the film’s distribution in the Arab world.
Ibrahim Handal is a Palestinian filmmaker and cinematographer from Bethlehem. In 2019, he obtained a BFA in Cinematography from Dar Al-Kalima University. Ibrahim directed several narratives and experimental short films and was the Director of Photography behind various short films including the Cannes Cinefondation 2019 winner “AMBIENCE” by Wissam Al Jafari. Also, he was part of various teams of cinematographers and lighting technicians for several Palestinian feature films. Currently, Ibrahim is working on his first feature film.
