Gaza Surf Club Wins University Juries Award for Best Documentary at the MedFilm Festival in Italy

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A Sport That Stands For Personal Freedom

Gaza Surf Club Wins University Juries Award for Best Documentary at the MedFilm Festival in Italy


The recipient of numerous awards and honors continues to grab attention, documentary Gaza Surf Club by Philip Gnadt and Mickey Yamine won the University Juries Award for Best Documentary at the MedFilm Festival in Rome, Italy.

Composed of university students, the jury committee granted the film the award for its ability to convey the desire of running away from the cruel reality and making change with novelty and passion through a sport that stands for personal freedom.

MedFilm Festival is the first festival in Italy dedicated to the promotion of Mediterranean and European cinema. Established in 1995 on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of cinema, MedFilm Festival is based on the idea of diversity and it encourages networking, cooperation and the development of the film industry between neighboring countries.

Trapped in "the world's largest open-air prison" and ruled by war, a new generation is drawn to the country's coastline. Sick of occupation and political gridlock, they find their own personal freedom in the waves of the Mediterranean - they are the surfers of Gaza.

Directed by Philip Gnadt and Mickey Yamine and co-produced by Stephanie Yamine, Gaza Surf Club is a feature documentary film that stars Sabah Abu Ghanem, Mohammed Abu Jayab and Ibrahim Arafat. MAD Solutions is handling the film's distribution in the Arab world. In 2013, the film project received the Film Prize of the Robert Bosch Stiftung. The film landed its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Recently, the film received a Special Mention at the Days of Cinema in Palestine. It was nominated for the Social Justice Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and the Halekulani Golden Orchid Award at the Hawaii International Film Festival. The film took part in several film festivals including the Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF), Carthage Film Festival (JCC) and the Arab Cinema Week in New York.