WWU professors' film on Palestinian voices wins human rights award
The short documentary film "Creating Change" recently won the award for Best Human Rights Short Film at the Love Peace and Freedom Film Festival in Chiapas, Mexico. The film was produced by Western Washington University professors Brian J. Bowe (journalism) and Bidisha Biswas (political science).
"Creating Change" was produced through a grant-funded media literacy project supported by the U.S. State Department's Office of Palestinian Affairs. The film was directed by Palestinian filmmaker Dina Amin, who collaborated with Bowe and Biswas on the workshop curriculum design.
This is the most recent plaudit received by "Creating Change." The film won the Silver Award for faculty video at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication’s Festival of Visual & Interactive Media. It also received honorable mentions from the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival and Tietê International Film Awards. The film was a quarterfinalist in the Bay International Film Festival. It was also selected for the Festival Internazionale del Cinema di San Giovanni and the London Global Film Awards.
"Creating Change" is a poignant short documentary that traces the perspectives and aspirations of two young Palestinian content creators as they work to challenge stereotypes and redefine the Palestinian narrative.
The film delves into the lives of Donia and Rand, two inspiring Palestinian figures representing the resilience and determination of their generation. Donia, a bright soul from the Shuafat Refugee Camp and a student at Bethlehem University, employs dark comedy as a coping mechanism amidst the daily challenges posed by the occupation. Rand, a passionate advocate from Bethlehem, shares her strategies to fortify Palestine's image in the media. Her dedication to amplifying the Palestinian narrative and promoting a more accurate representation of Palestinians is inspiring.
Filmed in the summer of 2023 during media literacy workshops in Jerusalem and Ramallah, the documentary showcases the determination of workshop participants to promote understanding and present a more accurate depiction of Palestinian life. The film encourages critical thinking about the media's impact on public perception while inspiring hope in this young generation of Palestinians.