The films in this program delve into the various practices that keep us connected to our lands. Each of these films is marked by a displacement or disruption from the land that is ours: some are exiled from their homes, while others have never known it from their place in the diaspora. Nevertheless, the connection to the land is maintained through shared experiences that are passed on from generation to generation. These practices include making food, collecting herbs, upholding artistic rituals, preserving family memories, and reimagining ancient tales. The films show that, by carrying out these activities, we also exercise our self-reliance. The land has always provided all that we need to sustain ourselves for decades to come. Even if we are not physically there, we will always remain.
Curated by Nanor Vosgueritchian & Yasmina Tawil
A daughter, oceans away from her Palestinian mother, craves a slice of home. Guided by her mother’s voice & the grandmothers, aunties, and mamas that came before her, she recreates her family’s eggplant ‘fatteh’ in her own Brooklyn kitchen - transporting her to a homeland she’s never been. A celebration of diaspora culture, of recipes with the power to connect, and of the intimate memories that only food carries.
Filmmaker's bio:
NASMA KUBLAWI is a multi-hyphenate Palestinian writer based in Brooklyn, NY. She was raised in Doha, Qatar and moved to California in 2015, where she pursued a BFA in Creative Writing at Chapman University. Her poetry has been published in Chicago Quarterly Review, Calliope Art & Literary Magazine, among other platforms. She also holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and currently practices in New York City. Committed to promoting mental health through creativity, Nasma has led numerous writing groups to empower populations of varying mental health capacities. She hopes to both champion connection and elevate the global diaspora through her work in advocacy, written word, and the moving image.
ALIA CARITA TOMPKINS is a filmmaker & photographer currently based between Brooklyn, NY and Germany. Growing up, she spent time between California and the Middle East. She earned her BFA in Film & Television Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Alia currently works as a script coordinator on an unannounced series, and her past professional experience includes time at A24, UTA, Amazon Studios Comedy, and supporting the writers on Lulu Wang’s series, EXPATS. She recently took part in the Kino Guarimba film residency in Italy, and is in post-production on her next short film ORANGE BLOSSOM with creative partner Nasma Kublawi.
- Year2023
- Runtime4 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Arabic
- CountryUnited States
- GenreExperimental
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorAlia Carita Tompkins
- ProducerNasma Kublawi
- ComposerClarissa Bitar
The films in this program delve into the various practices that keep us connected to our lands. Each of these films is marked by a displacement or disruption from the land that is ours: some are exiled from their homes, while others have never known it from their place in the diaspora. Nevertheless, the connection to the land is maintained through shared experiences that are passed on from generation to generation. These practices include making food, collecting herbs, upholding artistic rituals, preserving family memories, and reimagining ancient tales. The films show that, by carrying out these activities, we also exercise our self-reliance. The land has always provided all that we need to sustain ourselves for decades to come. Even if we are not physically there, we will always remain.
Curated by Nanor Vosgueritchian & Yasmina Tawil
A daughter, oceans away from her Palestinian mother, craves a slice of home. Guided by her mother’s voice & the grandmothers, aunties, and mamas that came before her, she recreates her family’s eggplant ‘fatteh’ in her own Brooklyn kitchen - transporting her to a homeland she’s never been. A celebration of diaspora culture, of recipes with the power to connect, and of the intimate memories that only food carries.
Filmmaker's bio:
NASMA KUBLAWI is a multi-hyphenate Palestinian writer based in Brooklyn, NY. She was raised in Doha, Qatar and moved to California in 2015, where she pursued a BFA in Creative Writing at Chapman University. Her poetry has been published in Chicago Quarterly Review, Calliope Art & Literary Magazine, among other platforms. She also holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Southern California and currently practices in New York City. Committed to promoting mental health through creativity, Nasma has led numerous writing groups to empower populations of varying mental health capacities. She hopes to both champion connection and elevate the global diaspora through her work in advocacy, written word, and the moving image.
ALIA CARITA TOMPKINS is a filmmaker & photographer currently based between Brooklyn, NY and Germany. Growing up, she spent time between California and the Middle East. She earned her BFA in Film & Television Production at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. Alia currently works as a script coordinator on an unannounced series, and her past professional experience includes time at A24, UTA, Amazon Studios Comedy, and supporting the writers on Lulu Wang’s series, EXPATS. She recently took part in the Kino Guarimba film residency in Italy, and is in post-production on her next short film ORANGE BLOSSOM with creative partner Nasma Kublawi.
- Year2023
- Runtime4 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Arabic
- CountryUnited States
- GenreExperimental
- Subtitle LanguageEnglish
- DirectorAlia Carita Tompkins
- ProducerNasma Kublawi
- ComposerClarissa Bitar