The Boston Palestine Film Festival (BPFF), co-presented with the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, returns for its eighth year this fall. The festival runs from October 17 – 26, 2014. Since 2007, the festival has showcased Palestinian-related cinema to New England audiences to bring these narratives into the mainstream dialogue. This year alone, BPFF features 2 World Premieres, 4 North American Premieres, 3 US Premieres, 2 New England Premieres, and 3 Boston Premieres. Here are a few of the highlights:
| OPENING FILM May in the Summer Cherien Dabis 2013 | Drama | 100 min Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Friday, October 17, 2014, 7 pm Repeat screenings October 18 (at West Newton Cinema) and 23 (at MFA). Buy Tickets |
 May, a successful novelist living in New York, is coming home to Amman for her wedding. As the wedding approaches, May finds herself confronting her family’s turbulent past and navigating the knotty dynamics of a household of strong-willed women–sisters Yasmine (Nadine Malouf) and Dalia (Alia Shawkat), and her mother (Hiam Abbass)–in addition to questioning her life choices. The film also stars Alexander Siddig, Bill Pullman, and Ritu Singe Pande. |
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| Director Cherien Dabis (via Skype) and Actress Nadine Malouf in conversation following film
“Growing up in the diaspora – that’s very much what Palestine is. It’s a longing; it’s a conversation; it’s an obsession and a preoccupation.” ~ Cherien Dabis | Read the full interview. |
Director Cherien Dabis (via Skype) and Actress Nadine Malouf in conversation following film
“Growing up in the diaspora – that’s very much what Palestine is. It’s a longing; it’s a conversation; it’s an obsession and a preoccupation.” ~ Cherien Dabis | Read the full interview.
FEATURED FILM My Love Awaits Me by the Sea Mais Darwazeh 2013 | Documentary | 80 min Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Thursday, October 23, 2014, 7:30 pm Buy Tickets 
The director takes a first-time journey back to her homeland, Palestine. She leaves a secluded reality and follows a lover whom she has never met–Hasan Hourani, a deceased Palestinian artist and poet, who unveils a beautiful and utopian world to her. Director Mais Darwazeh in conversation following film FEATURED FILM Giraffada Rani Massalha 2013 | Drama | 85 min Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Friday, October 24, 2014, 7 pm Saturday, October 25, 2014 1 pm Buy Tickets 
Yacine is a veternarian in Palestine’s only remaining zoo, in Qalqilia. His young son spends a lot of time with the animals and has a strong bond with the zoo’s two giraffes. One night, after an air raid on the city, the male giraffe dies. The female giraffe can’t survive alone. Yacine must find a new companion for the beast, but the only zoo that can help him is in Tel Aviv. CLOSING FILM Mars at Sunrise Jessica Habie 2013 | Drama | 77 min Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Sunday, October 26, 2014, 3 pm Buy Tickets 
A painter’s resistance, courage, and spirit can never be imprisoned in this story of the conflict of two frustrated artists, one Palestinian and one Israeli. Inspired by the creative journey of Palestinian artist-in-exile Hani Zurob and based on true stories and testimonies from the region. Director Jessica Habie in conversation following film See the rest of the 2014 Festival Program, including many films at free venues, here. About BPFF | Since 2007, the volunteer-run Boston Palestine Film Festival has been introducing Palestine-related cinema, narratives, and culture to New England audiences. The festival has featured hundreds of compelling and thought?provoking, films, including documentaries, dramatic features, animated films, rare early works, video art pieces, and new films by emerging artists and youth. These works from directors around the world have offered refreshingly honest, self-described, and independent views of Palestine and its history, culture, and geographically dispersed society. The festival also features original interviews with many of the festival filmmakers on its web site blog.