Info:

Screening format: DCP
Directors: Sarah Ema Friedland & Rami Younis
Country of origin: Palestine, UK, US
Language: Arabic
Subtitles: English
Runtime: 1 hour 18 minutes

About the film:

A story of a city that once connected Palestine to the world — what it once was, what it is now, and what it could have become.

Once a thriving Palestinian city, Lyd's history took a tragic turn in 1948 when Israeli forces massacred hundreds of its residents and exiled most of its Palestinian population. Today, divided and disinvested, Lyd reflects the ongoing struggles of its people. The film blends archival footage and speculative fiction to imagine an alternate reality where Lyd remains free from occupation, inviting viewers to ponder which future the city might yet hold.

Rami Younis (Director/Producer)

Is a Palestinian filmmaker, writer, journalist and activist from Lyd. Rami served as a parliamentary consultant and media spokesperson for Palestinian member of Knesset (Israeli parliament) Haneen Zoabi. Rami is also co-founder and manager of the first ever “Palestine Music Expo”: an event that connects local Palestinian music scene to the world wide industry. Younis was the host of the Arabic-language daily news show, “On the Other Hand.”

Sarah Ema Friedland (Director/cinematographer)

Is a documentary filmmaker and media artist based in New York. She is a recipient of the 2014 Paul Robeson award from the Newark Museum and was nominated for a New York Emmy. Friedland is the Director of the MDOCS Storyteller’s Institute at Skidmore College and an active member of the Meerkat Media Collective.