Falastin Film Festival: In Conversation with Malak Mattar
How does occupation and siege affect art and individual artists? Join Palestinian artist Malak Mattar as she shares her experiences!
About Falastin Film Festival: In Conversation with Malak Mattar
How does occupation and siege affect art and individual artists? Is it possible to look at art from occupied areas without considering the restrictions on freedom and other rights? What role has art in the Palestinian resistance?
In this conversation, Palestinian artist Malak Mattar will sit down to share her experiences and discuss the role of art as activism, cultural resistance, assertions of identity, and ongoing shifts in Palestinian narratives, while sharing her journey as an artist in the besieged Gaza. The conversation will be moderated by Bayan Haddad.
Malak Mattar was born in 1999 in the Gaza Strip and grew up under occupation and the military siege. From a family of talented cultural practitioners, Mattar started making art as a teenager during a period of open conflict (Operation Protective Edge, 2014), She has a Masters of Fine Art from Central Saint Martin’s, London, in 2023.
Soon after arriving in the UK, Mattar’s entire world was turned upside down, causing her work to undergo a dramatic shift in style, subject matter and palette. While artist-in-residence at An Effort in Central London (December 2023–February 2024), she documented the genocide in her homeland through a series of mostly monochrome drawings and paintings. She later combined these scenes into a monumental greyscale painting called No Words. “It needs to be completely horrific,” she stated while making the work, “otherwise it will not accurately reflect the genocide.”
Mattar has come to Edinburgh for her debut Scottish exhibition Screams. Her works will be exhibited at Embassy Gallery from 23-27 May and the In Vitro Gallery at Summerhall from 7-28 June.
Bayan Haddad is a Palestinian scholar and an instructor of English literature at Birzeit University. She is the George Antonius Birzeit Visiting Fellow for 2024 and she researches fiction from Palestine and Northern Ireland in light of trauma studies.
Falastin Film Festival (FFF) is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit collective of Palestinians and allies dedicated to bringing Palestinian art to Edinburgh and Highland audiences. Palestinians are often summed up as an ‘occupied people,’ and spoken for, though they have their own stories to tell. Using cinema as a tool of resistance the festival strives to decolonize the narrative and equip audiences with historical context. There is a desire to build community while celebrating Palestinian art and culture through cinema, music, cuisine, and other storytelling mediums. Scotland’s exposure to Palestinian society, art, culture, and humanity altogether remains rather limited. FFF hopes to fill this gap, using both classical and contemporary cinema primarily but not exclusively. They strive to highlight Palestinian steadfast resistance, cultural preservation, stories of love, and in the words of poet Rafeef Ziadah, teachings of life. In so doing, they offer a refreshing portrayal that encompasses the geographic, linguistic, and experiential diversity of the Palestinian people globally.
Visit their website falastinfilmfest.com or follow them on social media @falastinfilmfest.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at Scottish Storytelling Centre or Falastin Film Festival
Moonspinners
Join us for a new quarterly series of full-moon celebrations, with live storytelling, music and a rotating programme of incredible performers.
READ MORE
Exhibition: Caring Spaces
This exhibition at the Scottish Storytelling Centre celebrates the creativity and resilience of unpaid carers across the Lothians!
READ MORE
Forefowk, Mind Me
Join us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Thursday 10th July for the premiere of a short film made as part of the Forefowk, Mind Me project by Scots singer Quinie!
READ MORE
Hearth Fire Sessions
Welcome to the Scottish Storytelling Centre's Hearth Fire Sessions with June Dougie Mackay, Daiva Ivanauskaitė, Miwa Nagato-Apthorp & Josie Vallely (Quinie) on Thursday 10th July!
READ MORE
Scottish Memories Live - with Ross King and Jay Crawford
Popular podcast Scottish Memories is back at the Scottish Storytelling Centre with its second live event on 12th July, featuring two Scottish broadcasting legends in Ross King and Jay Crawford!
READ MORE
Easy Sundays: Always Room For One More
Come along to the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Sunday 13th July for a family session of welcoming stories, songs and crafts with storyteller Beth Cross!
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Guided Looking: An Artwork Audio Described
Join Fiona Johnston, audio describer, as she describes various artwork and objects from the Royal Collection at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
READ MORE
Palace Page Turners
Many authors have been inspired to pick up their pen to write about the Palace of Holyroodhouse. These sessions will explore these literary works followed by a hearty discussion!
READ MORE
Snapshots: Gallery Short Talks
Join us on Thursdays at The Palace of Holyroodhouse for a short talk on one of the fascinating photographs in our exhibition Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography!
READ MORE
Information Lecture: Help and Healing on the Spiritual Path through the teaching of Bruno Groening
A lecture about spiritual healing and help through the teaching of Bruno Groening is taking place at The Open Door Community Centre, Edinburgh on various dates throughout the year.
READ MORE
Chocolate Love Match - Fort Kinnaird
Ready to meet your Chocolate Love Match? Book now to secure one of the limited number of spaces available for our guided chocolate tasting experiences at Hotel Chocolat, Fort Kinnaird!
READ MORE
Ice Cream Breakfast Mornings
Fancy a wee treat? Join Ms Crème De La Cream's breakfast ice cream taster sessions at Stockbridge market.
READ MORE
Edible & Medicinal Weeds Walks: Edinburgh Climate Festival
Join Grass Roots Remedies experienced community herbalists on a guided exploration of wild edible and medicinal plants - many you may know as weeds.
READ MORE
The Night Sky Show
The Night Sky Show comes to Edinburgh Playhouse to take you on an epic journey from our celestial back yard and across the cosmos!
READ MORE
The Scottish Colourists with The Fleming Collection
Meet Theo Albano, Director of the Fleming Collection, at Dovecot on Sunday 29th June, as we say farewell to the Scottish Colourists.
READ MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links