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TO MY FATHER

( 2008 )
Special Presentations, Window on Palestine |
 
Palestine
 |
 Arabic |
 52 min

About the film

A poignant exploration of Palestinian and Arab history spanning five decades, To My Father is set against the backdrop of a refugee camp in Rafah, the film pays homage to 1950s-70s studio photographers. Shehadeh reflects on the transformative power of photography, examining its role as a tool of control, a source of fear through ID systems, and a means of commemorating the missing and the dead.

Director

Abdelsalam Shehadeh

Abdel Salam Shehadeh, a versatile filmmaker and journalist, has worked globally as a director, cameraman, sound technician, and journalist for esteemed outlets like Reuters, BBC, TSR, Japanese TV, and Arte. From 1999 to 2009, he served as the General Production Director for Ramattan News Agency Palestine, earning recognition for over 15 documentaries exploring themes like violence against children, the lasting impact of humiliation, Israeli bombings on Gaza, and women’s rights. Despite facing challenges, his films have garnered international acclaim and awards. Notable works include Human Rights are Women’s Rights (1998), The Cane (2000), Debris (2001), Rainbow (2004), and the poignant To My Father (2009), tragically lost to Israeli bombings.

Producer

Qassim Ali

Production Company

Screenplay

Cinematography

Abdelsalam Shehadeh

Editing

Abdelrahman Hussein

Sound

Youssef Arwa

Cast

Khalel Almzayen, Maray Maray Abo Azem, Reham Ahmed, Iftikar Halawa

Contacts

Producer

Qassim Ali

Production Company

Screenplay

Cinematography

Abdelsalam Shehadeh

Editing

Abdelrahman Hussein

Sound

Youssef Arwa

Cast

Khalel Almzayen, Maray Maray Abo Azem, Reham Ahmed, Iftikar Halawa

Contacts

More About Film

Those were the days when girls were prettier, when eyes were in all colours, without any colour! What’s different now? The camera, or theeyes?” asks  Abdelsalam Shehadeh in this poetic homage to the studio photographers of the 1950’s to 70’s. Set partly in a refugee camp in Rafah, this is a remarkable look back at fifty years of Palestinian and Arab history, through photographs, reportage and the voices of these photographers today. The portrait image has always been something to cherish, but Shehadeh shows that it has also been turned into a tool of control and object of fear through ID systems, and, of course, into a form of commemorating and remembering the missing and the dead.To My Father is a personal and moving film that confirms the talent of Gaza born director Shehadeh (Gaza, Another Kind of Tears, Rainbow), who has worked all over the world as a director, cameraman and journalist. A photo here is not just a photo: it brings history to life.

Producer

Qassim Ali

Cinematography

Abdelsalam Shehadeh

Editing

Abdelrahman Hussein

Sound

Youssef Arwa

Cast

Khalel Almzayen, Maray Maray Abo Azem, Reham Ahmed, Iftikar Halawa

More About Film

Those were the days when girls were prettier, when eyes were in all colours, without any colour! What's different now? The camera, or theeyes?" asks  Abdelsalam Shehadeh in this poetic homage to the studio photographers of the 1950's to 70's. Set partly in a refugee camp in Rafah, this is a remarkable look back at fifty years of Palestinian and Arab history, through photographs, reportage and the voices of these photographers today. The portrait image has always been something to cherish, but Shehadeh shows that it has also been turned into a tool of control and object of fear through ID systems, and, of course, into a form of commemorating and remembering the missing and the dead.To My Father is a personal and moving film that confirms the talent of Gaza born director Shehadeh (Gaza, Another Kind of Tears, Rainbow), who has worked all over the world as a director, cameraman and journalist. A photo here is not just a photo: it brings history to life.