West Bank Cinema Reopens
Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 08/13/2010 - 11:04.
The only movie theater in the West Bank town of Jenin finally reopened its doors on August 5th with a three-day film festival. And the resuscitated Cinema Jenin is set to be far more than a source of entertainment for the area’s residents. Its intended role is as the town’s new cultural heart, promoting peace, an intercultural dialog, education, and social integration.
The revival of Cinema Jenin was prompted by an exemplary gesture of peace. When 12-year-old Ahmed Khatib was killed in 2005, his father donated his son’s organs to Israeli children. German film director Marcus Vetter turned this into the internationally acclaimed movie Heart of Jenin, which was recently picked in Berlin to receive the 2010 LOLA award for the best German feature-length documentary. Vetter also initiated the Cinema Jenin project devoted to reconstructing the town’s only cinema.
Because Cinema Jenin had been closed since the outbreak of the First Intifada in 1987, the theatre was in sad condition when work to renovate it began. But local professionals and foreign volunteers lovingly labored to restore the derelict building and repair the still-serviceable projection equipment.
A large number of international supporters contributed generously to this cultural relief project. Kinoton GmbH donated a new film spool tower, in addition to providing substantial input and advice to ensure professional planning of the electrical systems as well as stage, audio and projection engineering for a high standard of cinematic quality.
The revival of Cinema Jenin was prompted by an exemplary gesture of peace. When 12-year-old Ahmed Khatib was killed in 2005, his father donated his son’s organs to Israeli children. German film director Marcus Vetter turned this into the internationally acclaimed movie Heart of Jenin, which was recently picked in Berlin to receive the 2010 LOLA award for the best German feature-length documentary. Vetter also initiated the Cinema Jenin project devoted to reconstructing the town’s only cinema. Because Cinema Jenin had been closed since the outbreak of the First Intifada in 1987, the theatre was in sad condition when work to renovate it began. But local professionals and foreign volunteers lovingly labored to restore the derelict building and repair the still-serviceable projection equipment.
A large number of international supporters contributed generously to this cultural relief project. Kinoton GmbH donated a new film spool tower, in addition to providing substantial input and advice to ensure professional planning of the electrical systems as well as stage, audio and projection engineering for a high standard of cinematic quality.
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