TIFF Bell Lightbox 350 King St W, Toronto, Cinema 2
English, translated Hebrew & Arabic
Letter to My Tribe started with a question: Why don’t more Jews and Israelis speak out about Palestine? Over many years my mother, who represents a more messianic perspective, and I have had numerous arguments, some recorded, some not. These form the backbone of this video essay in which Israelis and Jews, journalists, activists and a rabbi are interviewed, and in which documentation of actions on the ground, in the West Bank, are woven with more personal family histories and journeys to Iraq and to Poland.
World Premiere
Post-Screening Discussion: Reflections on Solidarity
After the screening the film’s director Yael, will joined by Mohammad Yassin (Occupy U of T) for a short discussion on solidarity with Palestinians - and will reflect on their own work as activists and they have worked to build solidary and lessons learned from their activism.
bh Yael is a Toronto based filmmaker, video and installation artist. She is Professor of Integrated Media at OCAD University, past Chair of Senate and past Assistant Dean. Yael’s films and installations have dealt with the many intersections of identity and family; it has focused on activist initiatives in Palestine/Israel, as well as apocalypse, geopolitical and environmental urgencies.
Mohammad Yassin is a Palestinian organizer with family in Gaza and a recent graduate from the University of Toronto. As a student, he worked to push UofT to divest from and cut ties with institutions that propagate the genocidal Israeli regime. During OccupyUofT's encampment at the People's Circle for Palestine, he took on the role of media spokesperson and was a member of the negotiation team that met with the university's administration.
Learn More: Letter to My Tribe
Copresented by:
Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre
Independent Jewish Voice Toronto
OCADU Arts and Social Change
