1st Annual From Turtle Island to Palestine Film Festival 2024

The From Turtle Island to Palestine Film Festival is hosted by the students of SOC 3391 Decolonization II: From Turtle Island to Palestine at King’s University College in partnership with the Canada Palestine Social Association London, Independent Jewish Voices London, and People for Peace London.

Details of the 2024 From Turtle Island to Palestine Film Festival are listed below.

Elders Mary Lou and Dan Smoke opened the Film Festival on Thursday March 14, 2024 and led a sharing Circle about our opening film: Nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up by Tasha Hubbard.

On Thursday March 21, 2024, we watched the film When I Saw You (Lamma Shoftak) by Annemarie Jacir, followed by a panel with Canada Palestine Social Association London, Independent Jewish Voices London, People for Peace London, and honoured guests Areej Obeid and her Mama who reflected on interconnections between the film, Mother’s Day in Palestine, and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

On Thursday March 28, 2024, we welcomed filmmaker Leila Almawy and her Uncle Zaki Elkassem to introduce Leila’s film Rumaan. We also watched Rana Nazzal Hamadeh’s film We Would Be Freer. Leila Almawy and her Uncle Zaki Elkassem led a Question and Answer session about the films, Indigenous and Palestinian rootedness in the land, decolonization, the Right of Return, and dreams of going/being home.