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Provoked Narratives: Palestinian Cinema of Resistance

We are proud to present five films from the “Provoked Narratives” series by the Palestine Film Institute. Please join us to see Palestine’s history on film and stand in solidarity with its people.

Thursday, January 23rd at 7:00 p.m.

Admission is FREE – Tickets are required

About the event

The event is free to attend. We encourage donations to the Ghassan Abu Sittah children’s fund (gascf.org) and Medical Aid for Palestine (map.org.uk). There will be options available at the event for those who wish to contribute.

With the ongoing violence against Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon, we are compelled to turn to the archive as an act of resistance. This series brings together films from 1967 to 1984 that explore shifting perspectives on the Palestinian struggle, more important than ever to learn from and understand at this time of crisis. These pioneering works by Palestinian filmmakers forge new visual languages in grief and defiance, engaging in themes of generational trauma, resistance, and solidarity.

Through these films, we aim to foster learning, spark dialogue and action, build community, and support mobilizing efforts for change in the face of ongoing genocide.

About the films — Some text and descriptions provided courtesy of the Palestine Film Institute.

Blown by the Wind (1971, dir. Jacques Madvo). Runtime: 18 mins

Blown by the Wind presents vibrant drawings by Palestinian children displaced to Lebanon after the 1967 Six-Day War, capturing their memories and dreams of home. Through images of lush landscapes and gentle folk songs, the Lebanon-raised Armenian filmmaker Jacques Madvo portrays the children’s longing and resilience, even as these are juxtaposed with depictions of violence and exile. This award-winning short powerfully reflects how love for nature and homeland is embedded in Palestinian art and spirit from a young age.

 

Kufr Shuba (1975, dir. Samir Nimr). Runtime: 35 mins

Samir Nimr’s Kufr Shuba, produced by the Palestine Cinema Institute, commemorates solidarity between Lebanese villagers and Palestinian fighters in South Lebanon following a fierce battle. Combining lyrical landscapes and political statement, the film juxtaposes Arafat’s 1974 UN address with the reflections of resistance fighters. This cinematic tribute underscores resilience, the love of land, and a commitment to solidarity as essential for liberation.

 

Children without Childhood (1980, dir. Khadijeh Habashneh). Runtime: 21 mins

Veteran filmmaker Khadijeh Habashneh dedicates her work to preserving the Palestinian struggle, especially the lives of women and children under occupation. Children without Childhood, produced by the Palestine Cinema Institute and the General Union of Palestinian Women, centers on children orphaned by the 1976 Tel al-Zaatar massacre and their lives in diaspora camps under Israeli occupation. The film highlights the stark contrast between the International Declaration of Child Rights and the harsh realities faced by Palestinian children.

 

Why? (1982, dir. Monica Maurer). Runtime: 28 mins

Activist filmmaker Monica Maurer moved to Beirut in 1977 to work with the PLO’s Palestine Cinema Institute and over the course of five years made six documentaries about the Palestinian resistance. Shot in Beirut and released during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, the film both portrays the brutality of the siege as well as people’s survival. The film is rhythmed by the urgency of sirens, communicating the human toll of the violence to a wider world in an attempt to rally support for the Palestinian revolution.

 

Ma’loul Celebrates Its Destruction (1984, dir. Michel Khleifi). Runtime: 32 mins

Like countless Palestinian villages since 1948, Ma’loul has been erased from the map. Every year on Israel’s Independence Day—the only day movement is permitted—Ma’loul’s displaced Palestinian families return to share stories, walk among their lemon, apricot, and almond trees, and pass their heritage on to the next generation. In Ma’loul Celebrates Its Destruction, Michel Khleifi captures this act of remembrance, crafting a powerful meditation on memory, resilience, and the refusal to be erased. The film marks a turning point in Palestinian cinema, shifting from the dream of return to the act of return itself, where storytelling and memory become tools of resistance.

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Sustainability Series: THE EDGE OF NATURE

Watch Trailer Director: Josh Fox

Gasland filmmaker Josh Fox spent the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic – a unique moment in human history that some scientists have referred to as “The Anthropause” – isolating himself in a one-room cabin in the woods of Pennsylvania while he suffered through the physical, mental, and neurological impacts of a bout with long covid. His hope was that, through developing a close connection with nature, he would be able to heal his body, his mind, and his soul. Over the course of nine months, Fox documented his life in isolation and the insights he developed about topics as wide-ranging as wildlife, genocide, the intergenerational trauma common to rural America, and, most importantly, himself.

About the Speaker

 

Check out the rest of our line-up of Sustainability Films

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Running Time: 105 MIN105 MIN
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Friends of India Film Screenings

The many cultures of the Indian subcontinent offer a rich plethora of traditions, philosophies, arts and music. Moreover, Athens is home to a vibrant population of students, faculty, and community members who either hail from the this region of the globe or have have strong ties to it. As a result, we are honored to partner with Ohio University’s Friends of India Endowment organization to feature films that celebrate India and its contribution to The Arts.

The film screenings in this series are meant as a way for the entire Athens community to come together in experiencing the wonderful things that India has to offer, as well as to see some outstanding movies made by Indian filmmakers. These events will often include special concessions like curry popcorn and chai tea provided by FOI members, as well as the opportunity for patrons to chat and get to know one another.

To learn more about the Friends of India organization, please visit their website here

 

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BABES: Last Day Thursday, June 13th

Watch Trailer Director: Pamela Adlon
Cast: Ilana Glazer, Michelle Buteau

Eden (Ilana Glazer) and Dawn (Michelle Buteau) have been BFF’s since childhood; however, they have very different approaches to Life — Dawn is a responsible, married mother of two; Eden, on the other hand, lives life on more carefree terms. After a one-night stand, Eden finds herself unexpectedly pregnant and, deciding to follow through with having the baby, turns to Dawn for help and advice. As the two friends wrestle with the complexities of motherhood, their friendship gets put to the test (along with lots of laugh-inducing fun from two top-notch comedians!) and each comes away a little wiser in the end.

Rounding out the cast of this latest Glazer project is Oliver Platt, Hasan Minhaj, and Sandra Bernhard. Directed by Pamela Adlon (the voice actress for “Bobby” from the TV show King of the HillI), Babes debuted at the SXSW in March 2024 and is sure to be another feather in the cap for the zany star and co-creator of  Broad City.

 

 

 

 

 

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Running Time: 109 MIN109 MIN
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TUESDAY: Last Day Thursday, June 20th

Watch Trailer Director: Daina O. Pusić
Cast: Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Lola Petticrew, Leah Harvey, Arinzé Kene

From A24 Studios comes a powerful story about life, death, and love.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld, Veep) takes a step outside of her usual brilliantly funny persona to star as Zora, a single mother who lives with her terminally ill daughter “Tuesday”, played by the award-winning Irish actor Lola Petticrew. Things take a fantastical turn when, one day, a strange bird – a talking, size-changing parrot – arrives, setting mother and daughter on an emotional rollercoaster ride as they confront the meaning of existence and learn that the true essence of Love is knowing when and how to let go.

Tuesday is the directorial debut of filmmaker Daina O. Pusić and features mesmerizing cinematography by Alexis Zabé (The Florida Project). Dreyfus’s profoundly moving performance has been hailed by critics for its honesty, depth, and poignancy. Pusić’s affecting screenplay builds a bridge between fantasy and something very real at the heart of us all.

 

 

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Running Time: 111 MIN111 MIN
Closed Captioning is available for this film. Open Captioning is available for this film. Listening Aids are available for this film. Descriptive Aids are available for this film. This Film is Wheelchair Accessible

It’s clear that both Pusić and the actors...care about the characters. And because they do, the story resonates even more strongly...

Emily Zemler
The Observer
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I SAW THE TV GLOW: Last Day Thursday, June 13th

Watch Trailer Director: Jane Schoenbrun
Cast: Justice Smith, Brigette Lundy-Paine, Fred Durst

Back For One Week Only!

From A24 Studios comes a new psychological thriller from filmmaker Jane Schoenbrun. After striking up a friendship, two teen outcasts — Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Bridgette Lundy-Paine) — fake a slumber party at a schoolmate’s house in order to secretly watch an episode of The Pink Opaque, a show for young adults featuring strong mythological and supernatural themes. The two fall in love with the show (and maybe a little with each other). Maddy’s troubled life compels her to run away from home. Owen considers joining her, but he’s forced to remain and take care of his dying mother. Fast-forward 10 years, Maddy mysteriously returns to tell Owen that the substance of The Pink Opaque is, in fact real, and that the two can live there in happiness…if only he can see fit to believe.

With its striking visuals and excellent music soundtrack — in fact, musicians including Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, Phoebe Bridgers, Haley Dahl of Sloppy Jane, and Kristina Esfandiari of Miserable all appear in the film — I Saw the TV Glow is sure to be a hit with fans of Stranger Things and the rest of the A24 catalogue of films.

 

 

 

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Running Time: 100 MIN100 MIN
Closed Captioning is available for this film. Open Captioning is available for this film. Listening Aids are available for this film. Descriptive Aids are available for this film. This Film is Wheelchair Accessible

It reaches inside your imagination and stirs it around, making new connections between familiar concepts. It’s not just great, it’s fascinating and revelatory.

William Babbiani -- The Wrap
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Beat the Heat: WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT

Watch Trailer Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Charles Fleischer, Kathleen Turner, Mel Blanc
Awards: Oscar - Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Special Achievement Award

Eddie Valiant is a down-and-out gumshoe in late-1940’s Hollywood who gets entwined in a case that is sure to test what he’s made of. When a big-shot cartoon producer hires Valiant to dig up some dirt on Jessica, the the seemingly-unfaithful “toon” bombshell spouse of cartoon superstar Roger Rabbit, the private eye travels to “Toontown” to sniff out the goings-on of a rival studio exec (and the guy who happens to run Toontown itself). Valiant goes to see Jessica perform her famously sultry crooning act and seems to catch her in the act of seducing the rival exec; however, the man is murdered the following day and Roger Rabbit becomes Suspect No. 1. Valiant has his doubts about Rabbit’s guilt and ends up helping him get to the bottom of this strange set of circumstances. This puts the two at odds with Judge Doom – the chief justice of Toontown – who might just be the lynchpin of what starts to look more and more like a frame job!

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Click here to see the rest of the Beat the Heat summer line-up

This series is made possible thanks to support from the following sponsors: Athens County Children Services, Southeastern Ohio Treatment Foster Care Network, Ohio University Credit Union, and Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

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Running Time: 104 MIN104 MIN
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Beat the Heat: THE RUGRATS MOVIE

Viewing: July 26,2025

Watch Trailer Director: Norton Virgien, Igor Kovalyov

Little Tommy Pickles’ new baby brother gets born early…so early, in fact, that Tommy hasn’t had the chance to figure out how he’ll deal with no longer being the apple of his parents’ eyes. Making matters worse is the fact that the new tyke is kind of a pain to have at home. So, Tommy and his friends hatch a plan to take the baby back to the hospital; however, the plan goes awry and the gang lose the babe in the woods. It’s now up to Tommy to find his kid brother and get him back home where he actually belongs, having hijinks and adventures along the way!

Click here to see the rest of the Beat the Heat summer line-up

This series is made possible thanks to support from the following sponsors: Athens County Children Services, Southeastern Ohio Treatment Foster Care Network, Ohio University Credit Union, and Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

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Running Time: 79 MIN79 MIN
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Saturday 07/263:00
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Beat the Heat: ERNEST & CELESTINE

Viewing: August 02,2025

Watch Trailer Director: Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, Benjamin Renner
Writer(s): Daniel Pennac
Awards: Oscar - Best Animated Feature (nom)

In the orphanage underground where she lives, Celestine, a young mouse, has been taught that bears are nasty and evil…not the kind of folks one should associate with. As she prepares to follow the typical rodent trajectory of becoming a dentist, Celestine (who’d much rather be an artist) is tasked with stealthily venturing to the outside world where she must collect the lost baby teeth of bear cubs and bring them back for study. On one such outing, she is discovered by a family of bears and chased into the outside world. She spends a tense night of fear in a trash can and meets Ernest, a unique bear who might just change her ideas about how well mice and bears can get along.

Click here to see the rest of the Beat the Heat summer line-up

This series is made possible thanks to support from the following sponsors: Athens County Children Services, Southeastern Ohio Treatment Foster Care Network, Ohio University Credit Union, and Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

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Running Time: 80 MIN80 MIN
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Saturday 08/023:00
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Beat the Heat: SONG OF THE SEA

Viewing: August 09,2025

Watch Trailer Director: Tomm Moore
Awards: Osacr - Best Animated Feature (nom)

Song of the Sea, the second film in Tomm Moore’s “Irish Folklore” trilogy, is the story of a young Irish boy named Ben who learns that his mute sister Saoirse is actually a “selkie” — a mythological creature that can shapeshift from human form to that of a seal. The two children are the son and daughter of a lighthouse keeper’s wife who disappeared after giving birth to the girl and is presumed to have died. Ben has always believed that Saoirse was at fault for their mother’s death and is resentful; however, when the duo run away from their Granny’s house to return to their lighthouse home, they have an adventure beyond their wildest imaginations: Saoirse is tasked with using her magical power of song to save all the world’s mythological beings from the evil witch Macha, and, in the process, restore the wholeness of her family’s broken home.

Click here to see the rest of the Beat the Heat summer line-up

This series is made possible thanks to support from the following sponsors: Athens County Children Services, Southeastern Ohio Treatment Foster Care Network, Ohio University Credit Union, and Athens Area Chamber of Commerce

 

 

 

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Running Time: 93 MIN93 MIN
This Film is Wheelchair Accessible
Saturday 08/093:00
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