Sunday, August 10, 6:00 p.m. | In SIRI MIRI (2021, dir. Luay Awwad, 6 min., in English and Arabic with English subtitles, pictured), two Palestinian teens, out of boredom and sick of their mundane routine that’s leading them nowhere in life, ask Siri for help. Will it work?
Dig through photojournalist Mahfouz Abu Turk’s memories and archives, where he thoroughly documented his experiences in Jerusalem and the West Bank from the First Intifada in 1987 throughout the next decade in SHATTERED MEMORY, winner of the Best Documentary Short Film at the 2025 Chicago Palestine Film Festival! (2023, dir. Hayat Laban, 14 min., in Arabic with English subtitles)
In TAQI (2022, dir. Aleen Shoufani, 35 min., in Arabic with English subtitles) known Palestinian graffiti artist, Taqi Sabateen, a painter from the West Bank, expresses his frustration towards the occupation, the checkpoints, the Separation Wall through his paintings and personal life stories. Through his perspective, and his eyes the camera reflects the distress of a whole nation, the distress of the Palestinian people. Followed by exclusive footage from Taqi Sabateen’s recent US tour!
Founded in 2001, the Chicago Palestine Film Festival (CPFF) is an annual cultural event that serves as a vibrant platform for showcasing the rich and diverse narratives of Palestinian cinema. The festival provides a unique space for filmmakers, artists, and audience members to engage with compelling stories that explore the multifaceted aspects of Palestinian life. Through a carefully curated selection of feature films, documentaries, and shorts, the festival seeks to foster a deeper understanding of the Palestinian experience. Attendees can expect a thought-provoking and immersive cinematic journey, as the festival aims to celebrate the artistic contributions of both Palestinian filmmakers and filmmakers who make films about Palestine on an international stage. As the longest-running Palestine film festival in the world, the Chicago Palestine Film Festival, a program of the Middle East Charitable and Cultural Society Inc., a non-profit organization, stands as a testament to the power of collaborative storytelling. Film synopses provided by CPFF.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu