The short Palestinian film Bethlehem 2001 by director Ibrahim Handal will compete within the international competition at the 43 rd edition of Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival in France (January 29- February 6). The festival is recognized as one of the world’s most prestigious short film festivals.

Bethlehem 2001 world premiered at Locarno Film Festival and embarked on a tour in the Arab world where it has recently screened at Ajyal Film Festival, Alexandria Mediterranean Film Festival and Palestine Cinema Days. 

A young Palestinian wanders between his current reflections and his childhood memories of the military invasion and siege of Bethlehem. He tries to understand how his parents could lead him through those difficult times, hoping that would help him cope with the present time.

Written and directed by Ibrahim Handal, the film stars Muhammad Mughrabi, Yousef AbuShkhaidem, Hind AbuShkhaidem, Tarek Abusalameh and Karam Al-Salaymeh. MAD Solutions handles the film’s distribution in the Arab world.