YOCOPAS is an annual conference held by students from the Eastern Mediterranean International School (EMIS) that aims at establishing a collaborative platform for conversations and discussions between young leaders from Israel, Palestine, and all around the world. This year’s conference took place between the 17th and 19th of November, where participants from the International School of Amsterdam (Netherlands), Dror High School, The Democratic School, The American School in Jerusalem, Eco-Peace trustees and EMIS itself attended.

The Charney Resolution Center organized the screening of “Cinema Sabaya”, an Israeli film following eight women, Arab and Jewish, that take part in a video workshop hosted by a young filmmaker. Each character takes a camera that allows them to zoom into each other’s lives to show their unseen struggles. The group dynamic then forces them to challenge their beliefs as they get to know one another.

After the screening, the students were thrilled when they were joined by two of the actresses secretly in the audience. A question-and-answer session proceeded immediately as the audience was curious about the characters in the film.
“What would you say if you met the character you presented in the film?”
“I would go back in time and tell my character Soud ‘You are worthy to be loved, to be respected, to be exactly who you are, and let nothing or no one tell you otherwise,’” - Joanne Said, who plays Soud.

Cinema Sabaya won the First Feature Film Award at the Jerusalem International Film Festival in 2021 and the Ofir-Israeli Academy Awards in 2022. Currently, it is on the nominations for the 2023 Oscars! The Charney Resolution Center wishes them the best of luck!

Watch the trailer of Cinema Sabaya”

Watch Tzuzamen with Cinemas Sabaya Producer and Director, Maya Fisher and Orit Fouks | Interviewed by Tzili Charney and Tzipi Trope