Inside the TV Box, I Found the True Story of the People of Palestine

Storytelling Performance and a Screening of Three Short Films by Ahmad Saleh

Saturday, 28. 9. 2024 at 17.00 / Maribor puppet theatre, big hall

I was born in Saudia Arabia to a family of Palestinian origin. During my childhood in the 1980s, the first intifada (a nationwide uprising) began. Concerned about their families back home, my parents couldn't stop watching the news. My childhood was marked by a contrast: a peaceful life with one small window looking at Palestine through the TV screen. As the situation worsened, the window into Palestine grew larger and larger until it felt as if we were living there daily.

I grew up believing I knew everything about Palestine and the Palestinian struggle, but it wasn't until I moved back there to study for my bachelor's degree in the late 1990s that I realized how little I truly understood. A few months after I moved, the second intifada began, and the whole country turned into a war zone. Suddenly, I found myself inside the TV box I had watched during my childhood. Being in the midst of the events and experiencing the stories firsthand alongside the people on a daily basis, I soon realized I knew nothing about the people there. Having that dual perspective as both an outsider and an insider was overwhelming, and I found writing a daily diary to be a necessary coping mechanism.

Years after leaving Palestine, I realized that some of these stories remained unresolved. Recognizing the disconnect between the outside view and the reality of life in a conflict zone, I felt compelled to revisit these stories and present them in a way that would reveal the hidden layers of what it truly means to live in such an environment, particularly over extended periods.

In this performance, I stand before the audience and narrate true stories from my journey - from outside Palestine to inside, and back out again. The films serve as chapters in this narrative, complementing my live narration. Throughout the performance, I intermittently dim the lights to allow the films to speak for themselves, before resuming the live narration.

The first part of the performance explores my initial desire to become a local in the place I belong to, only to realize my outsider status amidst the conflict. This realization inspired my first film, HOUSE. Following the screening of the film, I guide the audience through various stories and events until reaching the moment I encountered the two boys in my second film, AYNY.

After presenting the magical realism version of their story, I dive into the details of the real event, translating the symbols in the film to their real root. This provides the audience with a close-up view of the story, akin to being present themselves rather than merely observing through the lenses of the news.

Continuing with other narratives, I eventually introduce the real mother for whom I wrote my third film, NIGHT. I briefly narrate her story before screening the film, then return to the real-life events. Finally, I conclude the performance by reflecting on the lingering thoughts and questions that have arisen from these experiences.

Ahmad Saleh

is a Palestinian writer and director. His first film, HOUSE, 2012 won a second place in the German Short Film Award and his second film, AYNY, 2016 won an Academy Award. Recently he finished his third short film, NIGHT and is developing his first feature. He collaborates artistically with his brothers: Saleh, Halah, and Huda. Ever since they made their first film, HOUSE, Ahmad, Saleh, Saed and the entire family made films together and established their own family studio. Inspired by their mother’s hobby of making ceramic flowers, the kids grow loving hand crafts. And that is probably what made building puppets and movie sets the natural medium to tell their stories.

Filmography: 
2021 (debut) Night, Stop Motion Animation, 16’
2016 (graduation film) AYNY - MY SECOND EYE Stop Motion Animation, 11’ 
2015 (student film) MAA BAA Hand Drawn Animation, 6’ 
2012 (student film) HOUSE Stop Motion Animation

Films presented during the performance

01. House
A film by Ahmad Saleh, Saed Saleh, Saleh Saleh, Halah Saleh, Huda Saleh, and their Mother
Produced by Ahmad Saleh, University of the Arts Bremen
2012, Germany, Jordan, 3'50''

For generations, a family lived in a spacious, beautiful and generous house. The generosity of the house had become part of their life. Guests were always welcome to enjoy a pleasant stay. Until one guest arrived with a different plan in mind.

Language: English
Recommended for children under the age of 14: No
Technique: Puppet film, Puppet animation

Team
Voice over: Ulrich Fuchus
Sound: David Black
English translation: Dina Mubaidin
Academic Supervisors: Andrea Sick, Joachim Hofmann

02. My Second Eye / Ayny
Ahmad Saleh (Fiction 2.0, Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Ahmad Saleh)
2016, Germany, Jordan, Palestine, 11'

The mothers stood when the war hit the houses. The children kept dreaming. The houses grew back. The war hit back. The children kept playing. The film is a Gold Winner of Oscar Students Academy Award.

Language: Arabic
Recommended for children under the age of 14: No
Technique: Puppet animation, Live-action, 3D CGI

Team
Written and directed by Ahmad Saleh 
Producer: Stefan Gieren 
Art Director: Jessica Neubauer 
Director of photography: Lionel Poutiaire Some 
Animation: Frank Pingel
Character Design: Sabine Dully
3D animation and models: Claire Steka, Dominic Tiedken
Puppets: Ahmad Saleh, Diana Meneatrev, Jessica Neubauer, Kerstin Gramberg 
Costumes: Kati Ostermann, Nici Lancaster, Carmen Oertwig 
Props: Saed Saleh, Saleh Saleh, Frank Pingel, Camilo Colmenares, Shin Moromisato
Light: Mahmoud Belakhel
Sound: David Black
Music: Nizar Rohana 
Academic supervision: Prof. Raimund Krumme, Stephanie Beaugrand, Prof. Sophie Maintigneux, Prof. Zilvinas Lilas, Prof. Katrin Laur, Prof. Markus Busch, Daniela Kinasteder, Christina Elbet // Production coordiators: Naser Abu Zer (Palestine), Saleh Saleh (Jordan) 
Color grading: Quimu Cas, Fabiana Cardala 
Sound recording and mix: Judith Nordbrock, Gerlad Schauder

03. Night / ل (layl)
Ahmad Saleh, Saed Saleh, Saleh Saleh (SES-Studio, Fabian&Fred)
2021, Germany, Qatar, Palestine, Jordan, 15'57''

The dust of war keeps the eyes sleepless. Night brings peace and sleep to all the people in the broken town. Only the eyes of the mother of the missing child stay resilient. Night has to trick her into sleeping to save her soul.

Language: Arabic
Recommeded for children under the age of 14: No
Technique: Puppet animation  

Team 
Writer, Director, Editor: Ahmad Saleh
Producer: Jessica Neubauer, Saleh Saleh, Fabian Driehorst 
Voice Actors: Mother: Hiam Abbas; Night: Rafia Aridi; Daughter: Salma Saleh 
Art Director, DOP, Production Design: Saed Saleh 
Animation: Basel Nasr, Leon Vidmar, Saleh Saleh
Music: Suad Bushnaq
Lullaby Singing: Rafia H. Oraidi 
Sound Design: David Black, Marcus Zilz
Sound Mix: Marcus Zilz 
Script Consultant: Selina Ukwuoma
Concept Art: Sae-Yun Jung, Nara Bak, Saleh Saleh
Animatic: Basel Nasr