22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war capture their lives in Gaza following the attacks on October 7, 2023, revealing stories beyond the headlines. Through a blend of animation, documentary, and fiction, they create a powerful testament to the resilience 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.

Commissioned and assembled by Gaza native Rashid Masharawi, this remarkable documentary shows what it’s like on the ground in Gaza trying to survive and keep families safe, fed and sheltered amid Israeli bombardments.

Executive Produced by Michael Moore, the film is Palestine's Official Entry to the 2025 Oscars, and has been shortlisted in the Best Feature Documentary category.

"Mostly shying away from politics, 'From Ground Zero' is a view of life in hellish conditions that also finds hope in small moments of normalcy." (Yahoo News)

"Heartrending as its individual glimpses of Gazan life can be on their own, 'From Ground Zero' is such an effective plea for humanity because its shorts cohere into a larger and more specific portrait of artists interrupted." (indieWire)

"For all its horror and sadness, this is one of the most hopeful films I’ve ever seen." (RogerEbert.com)

"The film is a stirring testament to art as a tool of survival, to the power of community art-making to affirm life in the face of omnipresent death, and to a nationless people’s desire to be seen by and engage in dialogue with the community of nations." (Slant Magazine)

Thursday, January 30
Doors 5:45 pm | Movie 6:15 pm *Start time subject to change. Please arrive on time.

FROM GROUND ZERO (Rashid Masharawi, 2025 / 115 mins / NR / Arabic with English subtitles) Twenty-two Palestinian filmmakers living through war capture their lives in Gaza over the past year, revealing stories beyond the headlines.