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Portrait of Elia Suleiman

Elia Suleiman

Palestinian film director, screenwriter, and actor

Born
28 July 1960
Born in
Nazareth, Palestine
Path
Cinema
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Why Elia is here

Elia Suleiman is a distinguished Palestinian filmmaker known for his unique storytelling and portrayal of life under Israeli occupation. His works, often filled with tragicomic elements, offer a deep insight into the Palestinian experience and challenge viewers to look beyond conventional narratives.

Their story

Elia Suleiman, born in Nazareth in 1960, is a Palestinian director and actor whose deadpan, near-silent films are often compared to those of Jacques Tati and Buster Keaton.

His films Chronicle of a Disappearance, Divine Intervention, which won the Jury Prize at Cannes in 2002, The Time That Remains and It Must Be Heaven turn life under occupation into quiet, absurd and moving comedy, and have made him one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the Arab world.

In pictures

Milestones

The moments that shaped Elia’s path.

  1. Moved to New York City in 1981, where he directed his first two films.

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  2. 1990

    Directed "Introduction to the End of an Argument" (1990) and "Homage by Assassination" (1992) in the United States.

  3. 1994

    Settled in Jerusalem and was commissioned to establish a film and media department at Birzeit University.

  4. Directed "Chronicle of a Disappearance," winning the Best First Film Prize at the Venice Film Festival in 1996.

  5. Released "The Time That Remains" in 2009, a film based on his father's diaries, which competed in the Cannes Film Festival.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. "Divine Intervention" (2002) - Won Jury Prize at Cannes Film Festival and International Critics Prize (FIPRESCI).

  2. Developing a Film and Media Department at Birzeit University, contributing significantly to Palestinian cinema education.

  3. His unique approach to filmmaking, often incorporating elements of surrealism and comedy to address serious political and social issues.

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Elia in interviews, talks and coverage.

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