May 06: Bard - Boston - New Jersey - New York - New Orleans - Chicago - Minneapolis

balata camp - resisting occupation through film

Three members of the Balata Film Collective will be touring the U.S. sharing their films and their stories, hoping to build connections with other film collectives and film makers involved in the global struggle for justice and liberation. Ruby, Mohammed and Mohammed will be showing films from Balata, including "Nour's Dream" produced by the Yafa Cultural Centre.

Ruby Said (26) is a driving force in the Balata Film Collective. Her creative mind produced five films including "Akoub - The Challenge" and "Hunted Everywhere". In Spring 2005 Ruby organised a women ex-prisoners network and associated public events. Currently, Ruby co-ordinates children's activities and Right of Return events in the Yafa Cultural Centre. Before joining the Film COllective, Ruby had no prior experience with film or computers.

Mohammed Farraj - Al-Urduni (28) helped to found the Balata Film Collective and balatacamp.net news service after his release from two years in Zionist prisons in winter 2004. Since returning to Balata, Mohammed has focused on prisoner rights and cultural activism. He contributes regularly to radical English and Irish magazines and studies journalism at An-Najah University. Mohammed also dances.

Mohammed Hajhamad - Abu Hakim (32) has run many drama programs and summer camps for children in Balata Camp, and he is the theater trainer of A'edoon ("We Will Return") Dabke and Theater group in the Yafa Cultural Center. Mohammed has been working in theater since 1993, and has directed many plays and several television pieces.

May 8 Bard College, NY

7pm, Monday 8 May
Weis Cinema, Campus Center, Bard College
Annandale on Hudson, NY

Sponsored by the Bard College Human Rights Project (www.bard.edu/hrp),
Trustees Leaders Scholars program, and the Student Action Collective.
contact kc859@bard.edu

May 10 Boston, MA

7pm, Wednesday 10 May 10
Fong Auditorium in Boylston Hall
Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Sponsored by the Harvard Alliance For Justice in the Middle East (AJME) and
BostonToPalestine (B2P)
contact: steffrey@gmail.com

May 11 New Brunswick, NJ

7pm, Thursday 11 May
New Brunswick Public Library
60 Livingston Ave, New Brunswick, NJ

http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org
contact: noelwinkler@sixpicturesofcats.org

May 12 New York City, NY

7pm, Friday 12 May
The Bridge (Made in Palestine exhibition space)
521 W. 26th St. 3rd Floor
New York City

http://www.aljisser.org
http://www.al-awdany.org
http://www.newjerseysolidarity.org
contact: noelwinkler@sixpicturesofcats.org

May 15 New Orleans, LA

7:30pm, Monday 15 May
Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center
1724 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. (@ Felicity St.)
New Orleans, LA 70113
(504) 525-2767 or 352-1150
www.zeitgeistinc.net
contact: neworleans@leftturn.org

May 16-19 Chicago, IL

Tuesday 16 May
EVENT tbc (contact justimage@gmail.com)

Wednesday 17 May - Political prisoner event
Room 220, DePaul University - 2250 N. Sheffield Chicago, IL
Featuring speakers from Palestine, Ireland, Puerto Rico and the US

7pm, Thursday 18 May - Chicago Palestine Film Festival
St Xavier University, Chicago
Showing 'Nour's Dream' produced by the Yafa Cultural Centre http://www.palestinefilmfest.com/chicago/festivals/2006/

Friday May 19 - "Music as Resistance: World Solidarity with the Palestinian People"
Venue TBC

All Chicago events: contact: justimage@gmail.com

May 21-22 Minneapolis, MN

7pm, Monday 22 May
Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis
Sin Fronteras Video Productions presents "Through Their Own Eyes: New films of resistance shot of the people, by the people. Ambazonia, Palestine and the Indigenous Americas"

7pm, Sunday 21 May
Jack Pine Community Center
2815 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis
'Meet the Artists' Fundraiser

contact: 612 226 9607 or walkfree@justice.com

for general questions about the tour, contact kokoyekoko(AT)riseup.net