Mayor + The Present

This year's selection by the Keswick Peace and Human Rights Group is a double bill of films from Palestine, set in the occupied West Bank prior to both the current conflict and the election of Israel's current governing coalition.

Both films portray the triumph of the human spirit over the daily challenges of life while under occupation, whilst not minimising the personal cost.

Mayor is a real-life political saga following Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah. His immediate goals: repave sidewalks, attract tourists, and plan the city's Christmas celebrations.

The Present (Dir Farah Nabulsi, Palestine, 24 mins, 2020)

On his wedding anniversary, Yusef and his young daughter set out in the West Bank to buy his wife a gift. Between soldiers, segregated roads and checkpoints, how easy would it be to go shopping?

Thanks To Dogwoof and Farah Nabulsi