In November 2023, Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi founded the Masharawi Fund to provide support for filmmakers living and working in Gaza amid the outbreak of war. Over the next few months, filmmakers captured the tenor of daily life in Gaza, documenting the challenges and tragedies they faced during the ongoing siege. We are proud to present the resulting project: an anthology of twenty-two films from Gaza that document the steadfastness of the human spirit. From Ground Zero is a powerful collection of stories that combines a range of forms—from fiction, documentary, and animation—in order to provide a canvas to reflect on the daily struggle to survive. This film serves as a remarkable reflection of how art can thrive even in the darkest times, showcasing the enduring spirit and creativity that emerge amid ongoing devastation.

Mona Damluji (Film and Media Studies, UCSB) and Elisabeth Weber (German and Slavic Studies, UCSB) will join moderator Bishnupriya Ghosh (English and Global Studies, UCSB) to discuss the anthology project.

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This event is free but a reservation is recommended in order to guarantee a seat.