Knights of Cinema

This book consists of an account of the creation of the Palestine Film Unit (PFU) and its founding members, from the photography department in the early years of the Palestinian revolution (1967-1968), to its evolution in the mid-1970’s into the Palestinian Cinema Institution. Khadijeh Habashneh weaves her own memories into excerpts from letters and other communications of survivors, friends and PFU family members, with writings by scholars who analyzed the work and the contributions of this remarkable film movement (from the late 1960’s to early 1980’s). As such it offers a unique perspective on this aspect of Palestine film history that ended in the loss of its archive in the mid 1980’s, providing details that have not been previously published in English.
Khadijeh Habashneh (also known as Khadijeh Abu Ali) is a researcher, film maker, and activist for women’s rights and human rights. She worked as a volunteer with the PFU, and became an integral member in 1974, when the unit evolved into the Palestinian Cinema Institution (PCI). From 1976-1982, she worked as the head of the Archive and Cinematheque of the PCI, and wrote and directed two documentaries, including Children Without Childhood, also known as Children Nevertheless. Habashneh has also worked extensively on women’s issues. She was a founding member and served as executive member in the General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW) from 1980-2009, was a founding member and vice president of the Center for Women’s Studies in Jordan 1989-1997 and taught and published several books and articles in this field.

Translator

Nadine Fattaleh,, currently a PHD student in Media, Culture, and Communications at New York University, has an M.S. in Architecture from Columbia University, and previously worked on projects for spatial research at the MMAG Foundation for Art and Culture in Jordan.

Translation Editor

Samirah Alkassim, an assistant professor in the Film and Video Studies program at George Mason University, writes about Arab cinema and co-edits the Palgrave Studies on Arab Cinema