logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2025
1h 13m

The Untold Stories of Palestine | Farah ...

AFIKRA
About this episode

In this episode of Kawalis, we welcome Farah Nabulsi, the acclaimed director and writer behind films like "The Teacher" and the BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated "The Present." Nabulsi shares her powerful journey from her career in finance to filmmaking, highlighting her profound connection to Palestine and the human stories that inspire her work. The conversation delves deep into the reality of life under occupation, unpacking the emotional and political complexities. Nabulsi discusses her creative process, the impact of her films, and the urgent need for empathy and awareness. This episode is a compelling exploration of humanity amid the ongoing atrocities on Palestinians.

00:00 Introduction: Understanding the Palestinian Struggle
01:11 The Journey of Making a Film About Palestine
03:25 A Personal Connection to Palestine
03:53 Witnessing the Reality on the Ground
06:59 The Emotional Impact of Injustice
09:53 From Banking to Filmmaking
13:41 The Power of Storytelling
26:04 Creating "Today They Took My Son"
32:23 The Impact of Short Films
34:26 Inspiration Behind "The Present"
36:52 The Journey of a Filmmaker
37:19 Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
38:12 The Birth of a Screenplay
38:43 Taking the Director's Seat
40:42 Reflecting on the Film's Impact
41:22 Navigating Cultural and Personal Challenges
42:31 Authenticity and Audience Reception
47:28 Nabulsi's Latest Film "The Teacher"
47:44 Casting and Collaboration
59:59 Exploring Human Dynamics
01:04:06 The Role of International Presence
01:06:30 Challenges in Distribution and Reception
01:11:59 Final Thoughts and Release Information

Farah Nabulsi is a Palestinian-British, Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker and human rights advocate. Born, raised and educated in London, Farah began her career as an institutional equity stockbroker. She ended up with a CFA designation at JP Morgan Chase before moving on to build a children-focused business that she ran for 10 years. In 2015, she started working in the film industry and founded Native Liberty Productions, through which she writes, produces and directs fiction films, exploring topics that matter to her. She created a digital resource (oceansofinjustice.com) to deconstruct the Israeli military occupation of Palestine in a way never done before.

Connect with Nabulsi 👉 https://www.instagram.com/farah.nabulsi/

"The Teacher" will have its US premier on April 11 in NYC and its nation-wide premier on April 18.

Watch "Today They Took My Son" 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDZy1VTfL60

Hosted by:
Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

Theme music: Peninsular, Tarek Yamani 🔊 https://spoti.fi/47I59ns

FOLLOW & RATE THE KAWALIS PODCAST:
» Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/afikra-movie-night/id1646405109
» Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6wG6CeZgE9LGtOVKwB6d5U
» Anghami: https://play.anghami.com/podcast/1044639402

THIS SERIES IS PART OF THE AFIKRA PODCAST NETWORK
Explore all episodes in this series: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLfYG40bwRKl7IMTj6Jk7yAJXCMMqxaP5A&feature=shared

ABOUT AFIKRA
afikra | عفكرة is a movement to convert passive interest in the Arab world to active intellectual curiosity. We aim to collectively reframe the dominant narrative of the region by exploring the histories and cultures of the region – past, present and future – through conversations driven by curiosity.
📍 Local events in 40+ locations worldwide http://afikra.com/chapters
🎧 New podcasts + videos weekly http://afikra.com/podcasts
⚡ Become a member: https://www.afikra.com/membership
🔗 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/afikra_
🔗 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/afikra.official
🔗 Twitter: https://twitter.com/afikra

Up next
May 2025
Arab Film Criticism & the Film Festival Economy | With Renowned Critic Ahmed Shawky
We're joined by film critic and president of the International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI), Ahmed Shawky, and delve into the role of film critics in the Arab world. We talk about Shawky's personal journey into critiquing films and the evolution of Arab cinema. Shawky sh ... Show More
59m 4s
Dec 2024
Firat Oruc | Petro-Documentaries & Colonial Anxiety Over Gulf Cinema
In this last episode in 3 Kawalis podcast special zooming in on cinema in the Gulf, Alia Younis hosts associate professor of Culture and Politics at Georgetown Qatar, Firat Oruc, to explore the history of cinema in the Arab Gulf region. Firat delves into the colonial emergence of ... Show More
52m 20s
Nov 2024
How Kerala Shaped Gulf Media | Bindu Menon
What is the Gulf-Kerala connection? This episode of Kawalis is a deep dive into migration, media, and cultural exchange. Filmmaker Alia Yunis hosts associate professor at Azim Premji University, Bindu Menon, as part of a three-episode special on cinema in the Arab Gulf. They navi ... Show More
43m 4s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2023
Egyptian Director Haya Khairat on Her Special Encouragement Award From the Cannes Film Festival
Being a director, winning the Angénieux Encouragement Award at Cannes, navigating the film industry, and differences between working on ads, TV and cinema: award-winning Egyptian director Haya Khairat gives us an insider view on life behind the camera. In conversation with Mikey, ... Show More
1h 8m
Nov 2024
Cinema against Injustice | Farah Nabulsi
From finance to cinema, Farah Nabulsi's transition into an award-winning director has been fueled by her passion for justice. In this episode, we delve into how she discovered filmmaking as a powerful medium for capturing Palestinian realities and discusses the challenges she fac ... Show More
49m 6s
Apr 2025
Growing Up in Jaffa & Getting an Oscar Nomination as a Palestinian Director | Scandar Copti
In this episode of This is Not a Watermelon podcast, we're joined by Oscar-Nominated and award-winning Palestinian filmmaker, Scandar Copti. We dive into his childhood in Jaffa and growing up in a neighborhood with a rich and tumultuous history like Ajami, to his rise as an accla ... Show More
1h 9m
May 2025
Author Selma Dabbagh | We Wrote In Symbols: Love and Lust By Arab Women Writers
In this episode of Ehkili, Palestinian writer Selma Dabbagh discusses the influence of her legal background on her storytelling and explores the complexities of her Palestinian identity, particularly in the context of political engagement and activism. The conversation also delve ... Show More
59m 30s
Dec 2024
Future of Arabic in TV, Film & YouTube | Amanda Abou Abdallah, Rana Kazkaz and Hussein Fakhri
We organized a full-day symposium (October 26, 2024) with the mm:museum as part of their exhibition "The limits of my language are the limits of my world" at Northwestern Qatar this year. Three panel discussions took place which we are bringing you in three episodes on their podc ... Show More
1h 16m
May 2025
Data-Driven Storytelling & Anti-Authoritarian Journalism | Mona Chalabi
In this episode of The afikra Podcast, we're joined by renowned journalist Mona Chalabi who discusses her latest animated series "#1 Happy Family USA" with comedian Ramy Youssef, her unique data-driven and illustrated approach to journalism, and the use of humor as an effective c ... Show More
45m 27s
Jan 2025
Palestine Laced in Gold and Flowers | Dana Barqawi
Throughout her works, Dana Barqawi employs diverse media including photography, paint, gold, and flowers to craft a vivid portrayal of Palestine. She seeks to deconstruct biased narratives and colonial histories, reclaiming the agency of Palestinians. While maintaining a captivat ... Show More
42m 21s
Sep 15
The Brush that Carried a Homeland - Sliman Mansour (Arabic Episode)
Few artists have captured the soul of Palestine the way Sliman Mansour has. His paintings featuring olive trees, stone terraces, mud, and the steadfast women of the land have carried Palestine across generations and borders. In this conversation, Mansour looks back on his childho ... Show More
50m 42s
Feb 2025
Curating Art Shows at Jaou Tunis & Navigating Artistic & Cultural Politics | Taous Dahmani
In this episode of The afikra Podcast, host Mikey Muhanna chats with Dr Taous Dahmani, a London-based art historian, writer, and curator. She discusses her career, her ties to Tunis, and curating the exhibitions Unstable Point and Assembly at Jaou Tunis. She explores the socio-po ... Show More
50m 47s
Jan 2018
Rachel Brosnahan - 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'
The newly-minted Golden Globe and Critics' Choice winner for best actress in a comedy series reflects on a childhood divided between acting and wrestling, her Emmy-nominated turn on Netflix's 'House of Cards' and landing the role of a lifetime — as a 1950s New York housewife-turn ... Show More
1h 12m