Screenings

Synopsis

In her relentless pursuit of a memory that reinforces her sense of belonging, Areeb crosses paths with Ahmed, a parkour athlete in Gaza, sparking a journey where conflicting aspirations intersect. Nostalgia meets with ambition, and the weight of a confined past meets with an unpredictable future.
Filmmaker Areeb visited Gaza for the first time at the age of four, where she experienced her first encounter with the sea. This moment, infused with the magic of the sea and her Palestinian mother’s smile, left a lasting impression on her. Recently, nostalgia for her homeland resurfaced when she discovered a video of young men practicing parkour on Gaza’s sandy shores. Their joy starkly contrasted with the distant echoes of explosions. Longing to reconnect with her past, Areeb reaches out to the parkour team and forms a bond with an athlete named Ahmed. Together, they navigate the remnants of Gaza, exploring places like a cemetery, a run-down mall, and the remains of an airport. As their relationship deepens, Ahmed reveals the harsh realities of life in Gaza, transforming Areeb’s initial curiosity into a profound awareness of the struggles he faces. Areeb grapples with feelings of guilt and conflict as she witnesses Ahmed’s desire to escape the confines of his homeland, understanding the emotional void such a departure would entail. Their journey becomes not only a quest to reclaim memories but also an exploration of identity, belonging, and the haunting legacy of a home left behind.

Director

Areeb Zuaiter

Biography

Areeb Zuaiter is a multinational filmmaker based in Washington, D.C. Her work focuses on art, identity, and social issues. Her debut short, STAINED, won the Jury Award at Beirutʼs European International FilmFestival. Her documentary, COLORS OF RESISTANCE, was nominated for Sonyʼs Outstanding Thesis Award and won multiple awards at the Colorado Activism Film Festival and the Spotlight Documentary Film Awards. Zuaiter has worked at the Associated Press, was a Film and Video Fellow at the Smithsonian, and led the training department at Jordan’s Royal Film Commission. Alongside her work as a director she has taught at universities in Washington, D.C. and currently heads the programming at the Amman International Film Festival (AIFF).

Filmography

Stained (2004), Colors of Resistance (2019), One Last Wish (2024), Yalla Parkour (2025)

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