Elia Suleiman

Filmmaker Elia Suleiman travels to different cities and finds unexpected parallels to his homeland of Palestine. (imdb)

This anthology film captures the vibrant spirit of the Cuban capital through seven short stories, each directed by a different international filmmaker. From an American tourist's first night in the city to a singer torn between love and career, the vignettes weave together a contemporary portrait of Havana, exploring its music, culture, and the daily struggles and joys of its people.

An examination of the creation of the state of Israel in 1948 through to the present day. (imdb)

Palestinian director and performer Elia Suleiman delivers a darkly comic masterpiece. Suleiman utilizes irreverence, wit, mysticism and insight to craft an intense, hallucinogenic and extremely adept exploration of the dreams and nightmares of Palestinians and Israelis living in uncertain times. (Avatar Films)

The film is set in the tense period in the Israel-Palestinian peace process shortly after the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and the election of Benjamin Netanyahu, with the strained relations implied but not explicitly depicted. It is divided into two major sections, all loosely tied together as the story of Suleiman's return to the West Bank and Israel. (wikipedia)

The second Gulf War from 1990 to 1991 represents in the collective Arab memory a turning point in regards to the Arab nationalism’s self-perception as well as a moment of deep historical and existential insecurity. Five Arab directors discuss the events from their personal perspective.