It was screened in the documentaries section at the 2016. The documentary gaza surf club is a necessary reminder. In a grim reversal of surf mythology, gaza surf riders find themselves captives of history as the. Gaza harbourmouth in tel aviv and south is a beach break that does not work very often. But gaza is also bordered by the mediterranean, and the seas majestic white caps are drawing a new generation. Ibrahim arafat, a young man in his twenties with two day jobs, would like to make surf boards in gaza, but materials are scarce.
Though largely associated with the western worlds more casual and hedonistic interpretation of beach culture, in palestine surfing represents a form of everyday resistance, with surfers taking to the waves to drown out the everpresent din of war. Gaza surf club is disney masquerading as documentary. However, if you get on your surfboard on the mediterranean coast off the gaza strip, your adrenaline level might be a bit higher than usual since the region is quite troubled. Some of their boards and wetsuits have been donated.
While the young people of gaza lack job prospects and suffer the indignities of. Sick of occupation and political gridlock, they find their own personal freedom in the waves of the mediterranean sea. Israel reduces palestinians permitted fishing zone by a third. Germany, palestine, usa 2016 87 mins arabic, english color. Offshore winds are from the east southeast with some shelter here from northea.
Gaza surf club 1h 27min 2016 all sick of occupation and political gridlock, they find their own personal freedom in the waves of the mediterranean they are the surfers of gaza. This article is within the scope of wikiproject germany, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of germany on wikipedia. Philip gnadt, mickey yamine, germany arabian nights, mena premiere genre. Politics is not the point of gaza surf club it is, in fact, barely mentioned but the political. Gaza surf club is a 2016 documentary film from little bridge pictures, which follows several surfers from gaza and documents their efforts to surf and survive. The films release in germany in early 2017 is likely to prefigure a wider international rollout. Consider sabah, the 15yearold girl whos easily the most compelling subject in philip gnadt and mickey yamines gaza surf club. I really hope they develop their surf club in gaza and more and more of the youth aspire. The director of explore corps, matthew olsen, visited the gaza strip and set up a website for gaza surfers called the gaza surf club. Israel reduces palestinians permitted fishing zone by a. Gaza surf club drowns in supple water shots and goldenhour portraits but doesnt ignore the surroundings, scenes filled with the deprivation of war. The gaza surf club was founded in 2008 by explore corps to serve as an educational and community development resource for palestinian surfers in the gaza strip. This handsome and heartfelt documentary takes us into the world of the gaza strips surfing enthusiasts, and reveals a formidable resilience pulsing within a.
He founded the berlinbased production company little bridge pictures in 20, together with fellows andreas schaap and benny theisen. They have sent us equipment and special clothing for surfing, most notably 24 new surfboards. Their surfboards are new and modern, courtesy of surfing 4 peace and gaza surf relief, two international efforts launched in 2007 to support the gaza surfers with equipment and persontoperson outreach. They are the newest members of the gaza surf club, a community of two dozen surfers in the palestinian coastal enclave of.
Wedged between israel and egypt, it is isolated from the outside world and, as a result of israels ongoing occupation, the areas 26 miles of coastline no longer services ships. Sick of occupation and political gridlock, they find their own personal freedom in the waves of the mediterranean they. While it is a niche sport getting surfboards in is a struggle surfing in the mediterranean is a fantastic contrast to gazas intolerable conditions, and the subject has made for an exhilarating film. Focusing on the story of two individuals, gaza surf club tells the story of 23yearold ibrahim arafat and 15yearold sabah abu ghanem. In 2008, a loose band of surfing enthusiasts formed the gaza surf club with help from the u.
If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks. Its a poignant picture that shows palestinian youth trying against the odds to do something with their lives. Rawand is one of four girls learning to ride the waves of the gaza strip. The film takes a day in the life approach and does not discuss the gaza surf club project itself but instead focuses on some the characters that make up the gaza surf club community. But thats not really the case as the two men splash into water cold enough to take their breath. Dec 15, 2016 gaza surf club drowns in supple water shots and goldenhour portraits but doesnt ignore the surroundings, scenes filled with the deprivation of war.
How young palestinians find a break in times of war. Surf programming and equipment distribution in gaza is run by explore corps, the u. His latest productions include the last compartment 2016, gaza surf club 2016 and print the legendcurrently in preproduction. In the occupied gaza strip, young palestinians get a taste of the freedom they lack through surf.
Sick of occupation and political gridlock, they find their own personal freedom in the waves of the. Apr 08, 20 this came from an american civil association called explore corps. The new documentary gaza surf club highlights how the simplest human right, freedom, is a luxury for these teens and others living in gaza, who attempt to enjoy water sports while living in a. Gaza surf club surfing is included in the list of extreme sports due to possible risks like getting devoured by waves or shark attacks. Gaza surf club lets the disparity between the hawaiian islands bluegreen paradise and the gray ruins of ibrahims hometown speak for itself. The panelists will be presenting their personal stories about their lives on each end of the israeli sociopolitical spectrum. In a grim reversal of surf mythology, gaza surf riders find themselves captives of history as the californian promise of freedom in the sun is crushed by israels iron grip on the territory. Nov 06, 2016 a day later, back at the beach, members of the gaza surf club gather within view of abu ghanims house. His berlinbased production company little bridge pic. There is currently one video available for the film, of which one and only one is a trailer, as listed below. Trapped between israel and egypt and ruled by the hamas, a young generation is drawn to the beaches. Synopsis trapped in the worlds largest openair prison and ruled by war, a new generation is drawn to the beaches.
The young man dreams of escaping wartorn palestine to work amongst the surfers in surfings homeland, hawaii. Gaza surf club to screen at goethe institute egypt today. Gaza surf club 2016 stream and watch online moviefone. In a state where surfing equipment is contraband, one young man dreams of crafting his own boards, while a teen girl resists. Gaza is a small strip of land with a population of 1. Gaza surf club tells its stories through some appealing characters. In a country locked between egypt and israel, gazas youth are drawn to their. Philip gnadt and mickey yamine documentary 87 mins 2016 palestine germany arabic with english subtitles minnesota premiere.
In a grim reversal of surf mythology, gaza surf riders find themselves captives of history as the californian promise of freedom in the sun is crushed by israels iron grip on the territory no material to build or repair boards makes it through the. Together with mickey yamine little bridge pictures he has been pursuing gaza surf club since 2012. President of the federal council bundesrat in germany. Directed by philip gnadt and mickey yamine, this documentary arose from an interest in documenting the youth culture of gaza, evolving to focus on a specific subculture who has found an interesting niche, enabling them some sense of freedom in. Gaza surf club gaza surf club directed by philip gnadt, mickey yamine.
Weary of the daily state of emergency they seek meaning and perspective to their lives through surfing. Explore corps works hand in hand with the surfers to create customed tailored educational programming and opportunities with an emphasis on local resource development, training and. Show your support for the most unique surf crew on earth, the gaza surf club. Bbc radio 4 the gaza surf club, the gaza surf club ali. A documentary on surfers in gaza by philipp gnadt director. Gaza surf club is a wavecentric window into life in the gaza strip. The surf club in gaza where surfboards are illegal. Low this article has been rated as lowimportance on the. Gaza surf club directors say aleppo is the new gaza. But in gaza surf club 2016 there is little mention of the blockade or the occupation. Against the background of bombedout buildings, the small group of surf devotees wax up their primitive boards and head out to do battle with the waves. Gazas surfer girl hangs up her board and not by choice npr.
A portrait of life in gaza through the eyes of a group of young palestinian surfers who find freedom in riding the waves off the coast of this troubled territory. But gaza is also bordered by the mediterranean, which is attracting a new generationto taste freedom in the rolling surf off of the countrys coastline. Sep 27, 2012 their surfboards are new and modern, courtesy of surfing 4 peace and gaza surf relief, two international efforts launched in 2007 to support the gaza surfers with equipment and persontoperson outreach. Bristol palestine film festival is committed to providing an opportunity for moviegoers in the southwest to experience the lives of palestinian people through film. Mickey yamine grew up in cairo egypt and moved to germany at 18. Jochen kurten met german director philip gnadt and producer mickey yamine to discuss their documentary gaza surf club. Worldwide english title working title three mile riders. Video archive for the film gaza surf club, which has a domestic theatrical release in the year of 2016. The gaza surf club describes the sport as a way to forget about the hardships of living in gaza. Philip gnadt, mickey yamine 2016 crammed into a dilapidated car, a group of young men with surfboards drive to the coast through the bombedout streets of gaza city. Gaza surf club, a new documentary by philip gnadt and. Subtitled versions, english, german, dutch, spanish, arabic.
Gaza harbourmouth surf forecast and surf reports tel aviv. A portrait of life in gaza through the eyes of a group of young palestinian surfers. Watch gaza surf club online vimeo on demand on vimeo. Gaza surf club programme 2018 bristol palestine film festival. A day later, back at the beach, members of the gaza surf club gather within view of abu ghanims house. Documentary germanyegypt 2016 87min, cinemascope, 1. Arafat, mohammed abu jayab, sabah abu ghanem, matthew olsen. All proceeds from the sale of the tshirts go to support the educational programming of the gaza surf club, an explore corps project. As a young child living in the gaza strip, she garnered media attention for her formidable skills on a surfboard, but now that shes an adolescent, she is.
A group of young men, as well as a few girls, hit the waves as a way of mentally escaping the gaza strip in this handsome, uplifting documentary. Trapped in the worlds largest openair prison and ruled by war, a new generation is drawn to the beaches. By bringing to bristol palestinian film, art and culture we invite viewers to explore the multiple realities and identities of the palestinian people. Mahmoud and ali from the gaza surf club with their surfboards. Caught between israel and egypt, the gaza strip has been called the worlds largest openair prison. After various jobs in film and tv, he began his studies in film production at the hff film university in babelsberg. Jay weissberg, variety politics is not the point of gaza surf club. The 2016 germanarabic documentary gaza surf club will be screening at the goethe institute in cairo on april 15.