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Portrait of Emad Burnat

Emad Burnat

Palestinian filmmaker and co-director of 5 Broken Cameras

Born
1971
Born in
Bil'in, West Bank, Palestine
Path
Cinema
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Why Emad is here

Emad Burnat, an olive farmer turned documentarian, powerfully captured the nonviolent resistance in his village, Bil'in, against the Israeli occupation. His unique perspective as a local filming daily life and protests brought international attention to the Palestinian struggle.

Their story

Emad Burnat is a Palestinian farmer and self-taught cinematographer from Bil'in. He began filming in 2005, documenting his village's resistance against the Israeli West Bank barrier. His documentary, "5 Broken Cameras," co-directed with Israeli filmmaker Guy Davidi, provides a personal and harrowing account of the nonviolent protests and the daily challenges faced by his community. Burnat's transformation from a farmer to an influential documentary filmmaker marks a significant journey in Palestinian activism and global awareness of the Palestinian cause.

In pictures

Milestones

The moments that shaped Emad’s path.

  1. 2005

    Began documenting nonviolent resistance in Bil'in against the Israeli barrier.

  2. 2010

    Started editing "5 Broken Cameras" after years of documenting.

  3. 2011

    Release of "5 Broken Cameras," gaining international acclaim.

  4. 2013

    "5 Broken Cameras" nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.

  5. 2013

    Detained at LAX Airport while attending the Oscar ceremony.

Legacy

What they built, changed and left behind.

  1. Journalism

    Worked as a press journalist, providing footage to Reuters for two years.

  2. Nonviolent Resistance

    Played a key role in documenting and promoting nonviolent resistance in Bil'in.

  3. International Recognition

    Brought global attention to the Palestinian cause through his documentary work.

  4. Personal Narrative

    Showed the reality of war and oppression in Palestine through personal filming.

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