Greenhouse, a unique and advanced international training program, is opened for filmmakers interested in creating documentaries on the theme of Racism & Human Rights. Greenhouse, a leading organization for documentary filmmaking, aims to continue to support cultural exchanges between participating countries and contributes to mutual understanding between audiovisual actors of the European Union and the Mediterranean region, by underlining both common values and inherent cultural diversity.
At the beginning let me introduce myself to you, I am Awatif El jadeli from Gaza, 28 years old, I had worked in the media after finishing my senior year, worked in so many places, I will not be talking a lot about myself as much am going to talk about my film waiting for heaven. Because this is an experiment that deserves to talk about. The idea came in to my mind in 2007.Through Euro Mid I had to know the green house. What I know and I knew after I had sent my idea to the green house that all the workers are Israeli’s. Even though my family members they don’t interfere with my job issues but in this subject exactly everybody had gave their opinions between who is against and who doesn’t care. But they know that the last decision belongs to me. And I didn’t think too much in this issue because I have faith that peace between countries starts with good relations between individuals. So I was sure that if the green house didn’t interfere with the idea of the film or they tried to change things in it, everything will go perfect. But everything had changed and the way of thinking towards them had also changed, even though I am Palestinian and they are Israeli and until this moment we haven’t seen each other, but I feel that there is a big friendship between us that makes forget all the political problems. A lot have said to me that the green house if he wants to get you out of Gaza, he can but he doesn’t want. But my mind refused to agree with this thing because I am so confident that I have good friends in isreali away from all the people who tries to separate this friendship. At the end I really respect people in the green house who supported me in the war even their country was the reason for it and in the other hand many Arab friends didn’t even call me. I am really thankful for all my friends at the green house best friend Sigal, Sara, and Yaer.There is a special person I knew through the green house Steven; he was a really great person with me and Serje he was supposed to be co-producer he is also a great man.
About my experience with (waiting for Heaven) it is a really nice tough experience, Sometimes it makes me feel that I am so strong and sometimes I feel that I am a victim.Irmade me strong because it was my first film that had been founded from a big community like IDFA if though i wasnt there in the Seminar, i was very glad that my film had been founded from IDFA. Also my film had won a price for the best second idea in turkey. I am not going to hide that i told some colleges in gaza about mu idea before i ad worked with the green houese and thier reply was that it was a stupid idea and i need to forget it. i believe in my thoughts and ideas which made to continue my dream to come true.My dream was that this film would be done in a very professional way, but as a girl living in Gaza, working alone it always made me feel tired while looking for good stuff, the film Waiting for Heaven is talking about a conflict between three generations on the concepts of home land and I hope that you will be able to see it in a soon time. So the hardness that I was facing during shooting the film a lot, one of these reasons that we are in a place full of dangers and the strong relation with the family it made me to feel scared about them more than myself. I don’t want anybody to hurt them and this was a big responsibility.
Greenhouse, a unique and advanced international training program, is opened for filmmakers interested in creating documentaries on the theme of Racism & Human Rights. Greenhouse, a leading organization for documentary filmmaking, aims to continue to support cultural exchanges between participating countries and contributes to mutual understanding between audiovisual actors of the European Union and the Mediterranean region, by underlining both common values and inherent cultural diversity.
