Knights of Cinema

Khadijeh Habashneh (also known as Khadijeh Abu Ali) is a researcher, film maker, and activist for women’s rights and human rights. She worked as a volunteer with the PFU, and became an integral member in 1974, when the unit evolved into the Palestinian Cinema Institution (PCI). From 1976-1982, she worked as the head of the Archive and Cinematheque of the PCI, and wrote and directed two documentaries, including Children Without Childhood, also known as Children Nevertheless. Habashneh has also worked extensively on women’s issues. She was a founding member of the General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), in which she served as an executive member from 1980-2009, as well as the Center for Women’s Studies in Jordan, where she served as vice president from 1989-1997. She has also taught and published several books and articles in this field.TranslatorNadine Fattaleh, currently a PHD student in Media, Culture, and Communications at New York University, has an M.S. in Architecture from Columbia University, and previously worked on projects for spatial research at the MMAG Foundation for Art and Culture in Jordan.Translation EditorSamirah Alkassim, an assistant professor in the Film and Video Studies program at George Mason University, writes about Arab cinema and co-edits the Palgrave Studies on Arab Cinema

• 1.​Origins in Amman: Scenes and Narratives.- 2 Development of the Photography Department.- 3 Creation of the Palestine Film Unit.- 4 The Palestine Film Unit in Lebanon.- 5 From Palestine Film Unit to Palestinian CinemaInstitution.- 6 Accelerated Development at the Institute.- 7 The Israeli Invasion of Southern Lebanon and the Siege of Beirut.- 8 Search for the Lost Films of the Palestinian Cinema Institution.-

“The book contains a number of useful appendices featuring the manifestos of the various film organizations, correspondence between Ali and Habashneh, filmographies from the PFU and PCI, and biographies of various members. … several topical elements and now-familiar images emerge throughout the book. One is its relevance the reader can attribute to many of today’s concerns regarding film criticism and the state of affairs in Palestine today.” (Henri de Corinth, Senses of Cinema, sensesofcinema.com, Issue 110, August, 2024)“In the late 1960s, as Palestinian filmmakers like Mustafa Abu Ali struggled to establish a cinematic presence, the field of battle was both literal and metaphorical. ... Abu Ali’s journey from Al-Malha to becoming a leading figure in Palestinian cinema exemplifies this dual struggle. His personal experiences of displacement and loss gave him a unique perspective on the importance of authentic storytelling, making him a central figure in the creation of a Palestinian cinematic identity.” (Anjuman Rahman, palestinebookawards.com, November, 2024)