Little Stars of Bethlehem
In 2018, eight Palestinian children from Bethlehem were invited to play in the Hello Cello Orchestra during the Amsterdam Cello Biennale. A huge adventure for the children born and raised in Palestinian refugee camps. Although the tents have now been replaced by stone houses, these are still enclosed camps. The eight kids travel further than their parents ever have, arriving in a world where freedom and prosperity are everyday elements.
Director Shariff Nasr, this year a WCA Jury member, followed the young cellists on their adventure. He first filmed them in their own environment, next registered how they fared in Amsterdam. The heart-warming result was voted National Education Film in 2019. The judging committee described the documentary as "a film about strength. The power of music, which lifts the little musicians above the sometimes harsh and grey reality."
Pre-film:
Mosaic
Imge Özbilge and Sine Özbilge | Belgium | 2020 | 15' | No dialogues
In the oldest city of the Middle East, a Kurdish student, a Muslim musician and a Christian little girl are part of a cultural mosaic. When vicious noises bring war upon their city, a mysterious sunfish appears to save them
Live Q&A's with the directors
Both Shariff Nasr - director of the feature film- as well as Imge and Sine Özbilge - directors of the short film - will be present for live Q&A's after the screening on August 21.
Saturday August 21 | 21.00h | Rialto De Pijp
SHARIFF NASR (1981, Rotterdam) attended the Netherlands Film Academy. He is a director and writer with a talent for both dramatic and comical narrative. He is currently working as a director on his first feature film: El Houb. He has won various awards, including Best Film at the 2020 Dutch National Education Awards for his documentary Little Stars of Bethlehem. He is also a member of the WCA Jury this year.
