“As a documentary filmmaker I go to a foreign land, and the people tell their stories and open their hearts. In return, I give them back a film, but I don’t believe that a film alone has the power to change their circumstances in the long run. Rebuilding Cinema Jenin gives each of those who participate the possibility to write the next chapter in their lives." - Director Marcus Vetter. Built in the early 60's, Cinema Jenin (West Bank) was considered to be one of the largest and most impressive cinemas in Palestine. Hundreds of people attended it daily to watch films from the Arab world. Later, it started presenting action films and American B movies until it was closed as a movie theatre with the outbreak of the first Intifada in 1987. Ismael Khateeb, head of the “Cuneo Center for Peace”, his manager Fakhri Hamad, Marcus Vetter, a renowned German Documentary film maker and a group of enthusiastic locals and foreigners want to bring the old cinema back to life. Our aimis to encourage a culture of cinema-going for both the population of Jenin and its refugee camp by showing a mixture of unique, thrilling, entertaining and courageous quality films. These include fiction films, documentaries, comedies, children’s films, Arabic classics and contemporary movies. The official ticket price will be 5 NIS (1 Euro). A website will be created to present the various activities of the cinema. The project will be supported by residents of Jenin and friends from across the world - from construction workers in Jenin to the German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier to Israelis and Israeli institutions who long for a renewed peace process. The resurrection of Cinema Jenin has enormous dramatic potential and its story will be told in the form of a documentary which follows a parallel process where the children of the camp make a film about their lives. At the same time they are taking part in reopening what would become their future stage. For more information please download our project proposal.
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