The Wanted 18
Title in English: The Wanted 18
Director: Paul Cowan, Amer Shomali
Country: Canada/Palestine/France
Year: 2014
Duration: 75 minutes
Language: Arabic with English subtitles
Awards: Best Documentary from the Arab World, Abu Dhabi Film Festival, 2014; Best Documentary, Traverse City Film Festival, 2015
The Wanted 18 recreates an astonishing true story: the Israeli army’s pursuit of 18 cows, whose independent milk production on a Palestinian collective farm was declared “a threat to the national security of the state of Israel.” In response to the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, a group of people from the town of Beit Sahour decide to buy 18 cows and produce their own milk as a co-operative. Their venture is so successful that the collective farm becomes a landmark, and the cows local celebrities – until the Israeli army takes note and declares that the farm is an illegal security threat. Consequently, the dairy is forced to go underground, the cows continuing to produce their “Intifada milk” with the Israeli army in relentless pursuit.
Scarecrow
A boy’s father leaves the family farm when the crops die to go find work at sea. The boy and his grandfather work together to call the angels to come bless the farm so things can go back to how they were. Through his journey we explore the meaning abandonment and loss.
Title in English: Scarecrow
Director: Mohammed Salman
Country: Saudi Arabia
Year: 2014
Duration: 13 minutes
Language: Arabic with English subtitles