In this episode of Kawalis, we welcome Farah Nabulsi, the acclaimed director and writer behind films like "The Teacher" and the BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated "The Present." Nabulsi shares her powerful journey from her career in finance to filmmaking, highlighting her profound connection to Palestine and the human stories that inspire her work. The conversation delves deep into the reality of life under occupation, unpacking the emotional and political complexities. Nabulsi discusses her creative process, the impact of her films, and the urgent need for empathy and awareness. This episode is a compelling exploration of humanity amid the ongoing atrocities on Palestinians.

00:00 Introduction: Understanding the Palestinian Struggle
01:11 The Journey of Making a Film About Palestine
03:25 A Personal Connection to Palestine
03:53 Witnessing the Reality on the Ground
06:59 The Emotional Impact of Injustice
09:53 From Banking to Filmmaking
13:41 The Power of Storytelling
26:04 Creating "Today They Took My Son"
32:23 The Impact of Short Films
34:26 Inspiration Behind "The Present"
36:52 The Journey of a Filmmaker
37:19 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
38:12 The Birth of a Screenplay
38:43 Taking the Director's Seat
40:42 Reflecting on the Film's Impact
41:22 Navigating Cultural and Personal Challenges
42:31 Authenticity and Audience Reception
47:28 Nabulsi's Latest Film "The Teacher"
47:44 Casting and Collaboration
59:59 Exploring Human Dynamics
01:04:06 The Role of International Presence
01:06:30 Challenges in Distribution and Reception
01:11:59 Final Thoughts and Release Information

Farah Nabulsi is a Palestinian-British, Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker and human rights advocate. Born, raised and educated in London, Farah began her career as an institutional equity stockbroker. She ended up with a CFA designation at JP Morgan Chase before moving on to build a children-focused business that she ran for 10 years. In 2015, she started working in the film industry and founded Native Liberty Productions, through which she writes, produces and directs fiction films, exploring topics that matter to her. She created a digital resource (oceansofinjustice.com) to deconstruct the Israeli military occupation of Palestine in a way never done before.

Connect with Nabulsi 👉 https://www.instagram.com/farah.nabulsi/

"The Teacher" will have its US premier on April 11 in NYC and its nation-wide premier on April 18.

Watch "Today They Took My Son" 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDZy1VTfL60

Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

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