logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2021
44m 9s

The Missing Archives

Kerning Cultures Network
About this episode

In 1968, a trio of Palestinian filmmakers began making films about life under Israeli occupation. Almost 15 years and over 90 films later, their film unit became a dominant force in the Arab film industry. But in 1982, their film reels disappeared. Overnight, decades of footage and thousands of hours of archives were gone. Today on Kerning Cultures, the search for the Palestinian Film Unit's lost archives.

This episode originally aired in August 2020 and was produced by Zeina Dowidar, with editorial support from Alex Atack, Nadeen Shaker, Tamara Rasamny, Dana Ballout, and Hebah Fisher. Fact-checking by Zeina Dowidar. Sound design and mixing by Mohamad Khreizat. Kerning Cultures is a Kerning Cultures Network production.

For the list of films and other resources mentioned in this episode, visit our blog: https://kerningcultures.com/kerned-and-cultured/palestinian-film-unit

Support this podcast on patreon.com/kerningcultures for as little as $1 a month.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Jul 2023
So…what are we thinking?
If you have been enjoying this podcast, we want to hear from you! ⁠⁠Understanding who you, our dear listeners, are helps us make decisions as we continue to grow at the Kerning Cultures Network. Help us understand you better by filling this short survey linked below, it won’t tak ... Show More
59s
May 2023
Mo Amer: Stand-Up Comedian and Actor
We’re thrilled to share another podcast from Kerning Cultures Network with you: al empire.al empire returns for Season 3 with more stories of exceptional Arabs from around the world and their journey to the top, from comedians and entrepreneurs to musicians and media mavericks. T ... Show More
26m 28s
Apr 2023
Aizen – Epilogue
Since our series about 'Aizen' ended, many of you have been in touch asking for an update on his story. When we left you at the end of the last episode, he had arrived in Europe, three years after leaving his home in Kabul and travelling through a labyrinth of smuggler networks. ... Show More
22m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2022
The Palestinian tapes, part 1
Mo’min Swaitat unearthed a vast trove of forgotten Palestinian music. Not only did it hold long-lost recordings of his own Bedouin family, but also a mysterious yellow cassette of protest songs set to an electro-disco beat. Mo’min became captivated by the yellow tape. It would op ... Show More
33m 23s
Nov 2024
32. (Arabic) Cinema of Palestine with Ola Salama
This episode is in Arabic! Sorry to all our non-Arabic speakers. You can watch the full episode with English subtitles on Youtube.Is there such thing as Palestinian cinema? And what has the genoc!de in Gaza meant for film in the strip?Ola Salama, herself from Gaza, is the Executi ... Show More
31m 2s
Dec 2022
The Palestinian tapes, part 2
In 2020, Mo’min Swaitat unearthed a treasure trove of lost Palestinian music in an abandoned building. Out of thousands of dusty cassettes there was one that caught his eye: a bright yellow tape, completely unmarked except for a handwritten label that said ‘Intifada.’ Mo’min love ... Show More
34m 33s
Mar 2025
Documenting Ghassan Abu Sittah I Carol Mansour & Muna Khalidi
<p>When Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah left after 43 days of working around the clock under constant bombardment in Gaza’s emergency rooms, filmmakers Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi didn’t think twice before deciding to document his story. In this episode, they discuss A State of Passion ... Show More
39 m
Nov 2023
Who Has The "Right To A Story?"
On this week's Code Switch, we hear from two Palestinian American poets who talk about what it's like to be Palestinian American in the U.S. Fady Joudah and Tariq Luthun say the way their stories are told — or aren't told — has contributed to what they see as an erasure of their ... Show More
35m 54s
Dec 2024
Episode Eight - Unscripted: Navigating a Dark World As an Artist
In this unscripted episode, Nadia has a heartfelt conversation with Hayat Abu Samra, a Palestinian Jordanian Actor, screenwriter and filmmaker who’s been using her voice to spread awareness to her audience on Palestine. They share their thoughts on direct and indirect resistance ... Show More
32m 11s
Apr 2025
Why is evidence of  Israel's war crimes in Gaza disappearing?
Many of the images that have been seen from Israel’s war in Gaza have already been seen for the last time. With Gaza under siege from the Israeli military and tech companies censoring and taking down material, the responsibility falls on the people of Gaza to document and archive ... Show More
23m 25s