When Palestinian film director Leila Sansour first returned to her hometown in 2004, she planned to chronicle a year in the life of one the world's most iconic places, Bethlehem.
But when Israel began constructing a wall surrounding the town, Sansour knew she had a golden opportunity for a documentary film. Using the story of Bethlehem – the biblical birth place for Jesus – as a microcosm of the broader Palestinian-Israaeli conflict, Sansour ended up filming for 8 years.
The completed film, entitled " Open Bethlehem," first showed throughout the United Kingdom this past December. Sansour believes some 15,000 people have already watched it. Plans are also underway to screen the film for the British Parliament, with a debate on Palestine following the showing.
Although Sansour's film has already found success with a British audience, she now plans on taking the film to the United States, a market that is traditionally less open to pro-Palestinian messages. Having launched a crowdfunding campaign via Aflamnah, Sansour hopes to garner at least $85,000 to pull off an ambitious three month U.S. tour for the film. With more than a month left to go, the project has already received nearly $40,000 in pledged funding.
As part of the 2005 "Open Bethlehem" appeal, Sansour and Battarseh created the Bethlehem passport, getting prominent and influential individuals to take symbolic citizenship of the historic town. Reverend Desmond Tutu, a prominent South African human rights activist, is a Bethlehem passport holder and has said, "Open Bethlehem is a non-violent attempt to save a city that belongs to millions in the world. It is unconscionable that Bethlehem should be allowed to die slowly from strangulation."
Through the new crowdfunding campaign, Bethlehem passports are now being made available to the public. Sponsors of the campaign will receive honorary citizenship and a symbolic passport, representing the universality that the town's unique history demonstrates.
According to the crowdfunding page, "The passport is a unique tool through which we can mobilise those who otherwise might not act. Our plan cannot reach its full potential without solid support from our friends and like-minded people."
Speaking about the purpose of screening the film in the U.S., Sansour told The National, "We understand the role the US can play in the future of Bethlehem and Palestine, and also the large degree of misunderstanding about the situation in Palestine there."
“We want to speak on behalf of Bethlehem and tell them its story. People need to know about it. Israel is constantly feeding PR and information to the world and we don’t do that. We need to do it more and do it more ambitiously and do it ourselves, not rely on some Western ambassador."
The film has already received positive acclaim from its showings in the U.K.
"One of the most remarkable and moving documentaries I have seen. The tragedy of Palestinians encapsulated in the life of one town - Bethlehem. See the film then go to Bethlehem and see for yourself," said John Snow, main news anchor of Channel 4.
Time Out London called it "powerful." The Edinburg Reporter said it is, "absolutely essential viewing," and Radio Times referred to the film as, "undeniably potent and poignant."
On Aflamnah, Sansour wrote, "My idea was to create a cinematic film about the city of Bethlehem that invites people to look inside Bethlehem and meet its people as the city faces an uncertain future."
It would seem that Sansour has managed to touch at least many in the U.K. through the film's powerful portrayal. As her campaign continues, we can only hope that the U.S. audiences will be equally as receptive.