Rashid Masharawi/Director

From Executive Producer Michael Moore and Palestine's Official Submission for the 2025 Academy Awards, From Ground Zero, is a collection of revealing stories from 22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war, who capture their lives in Gaza amidst war.

Using a blend of animation, documentary, and fiction, they create a powerful testament to the steadfastness of the human spirit. This film serves as a remarkable reflection of how art can thrive even in the darkest times, showcasing the enduring spirit and creativity that emerge amid ongoing devastation.

Screening will be preceded by short film “IN THE WAITING ROOM” by Moatasem Taha

Hussien a 30-year-old Palestinian Arab with Israeli citizenship after being evacuated in 1948 — escorts his freshly bereaved 70-year-old mother Rashida to her medical appointment in an Israeli hospital waiting area. While Hussien works on an assignment on his laptop, Rashida — who hasn’t left her house in three months — tries to socialize with others in her limited Hebrew.