Gaza Projects
Over the last year, we have shifted some of what we do at ConnectHER to be responsive to the needs of our community in great need in Gaza. We ran various campaigns for Food & Water, Filmmaker Assistance and Winter Needs Baskets and used some of our project partner funds to help support these efforts as well - in all, more than $250,000 raised for Gaza.
The following interview is with Asil Al Wadiya, a software engineering student from Palestine and a ConnectHER Filmmaker. She won the 2023 Women & Work Award for her film Al-Mokhtara.
How did you get into filmmaking?
The first time I heard about filmmaking was in 2021: I constantly watched films on TV and Netflix, etc., but I remembered a moment when I discovered the credits for a documentary film by Asmaa Bisaso, and I realized everything that goes into the production. I discovered that behind it all, there is an amazing world full of directors, photographers, and editors; my mind exploded, especially because she’s an Arab and Palestinian woman! Knowing this, I was encouraged to research more and more about documentaries. I then made my first documentary and started my journey as a filmmaker!
What do you love most about filmmaking?
The thing I love about filmmaking is directing. I feel like I can completely present myself to the world through the craft and my characters.
What was it like winning in 2023 with your film Al-Mokhtara?
It was the best news ever! I made my film about 'women and work' in one of the ConnectHER fellowships in Gaza to highlight the noises and sounds that create a comforting rhythm that makes up daily life here. When my film “Al-Mokhtara” won the award at the ConnectHER Film Festival, I felt the voice of my country and my own found their way out to the entire world!
Hearing I won something was so welcomed, as it came at a time when I was currently experiencing a lot of loss. I received the news of my award after my house had been bombed, and recently lost the person who told me this happy news. My friend Areej would follow ConnectHER while I had no internet, and found out about my win before I did. And now she’s gone. I can not describe what this feeling is, or how bad it hurt. It really hurts. I don’t think any of the other winners have lived the life I am living.
ConnectHER connected you with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and CARE International; what has been your experience with your new partnership?
My experience with ConnectHER has taken me through various journeys in my personal life and my filmmaking career. With the partnership they set up with the other organizations, I directed a film about youth and the war, and I now work as a director for another project with CARE. From the first moment I worked with ConnectHER, I’ve increased my filmmaking skills more and more, day by day. While the world watches us with no reaction, ConnectHER has helped me share my voice out loud.
What do you hope people learned most from your film?
I want people to see me. I want them to know my ability to create and produce from literally nothing. I want them to listen to me, see my truth and know that there are stories everywhere around us; some of the most beautiful ones come from this land, our free Palestine.
What has been the most challenging part of your everyday life?
Every day I live in this horrible genocidal war – I feel like I grew up ten years! You cannot imagine the situation we are in. And people are just afraid. My hands shake when I hold the camera up high because people here are traumatized by everything and do not trust anyone. It's heartbreaking to see so much beauty broken.
How has current life in Gaza affected your filmmaking/ storytelling? Has it inspired you?
In a way, in these circumstances, filming is very hard for me. But, I am getting inspired by the endless stories that resulted from this situation, and I recently directed a film about this war and its effects on the lives of the youth. I made a promise to continue filming no matter how difficult it becomes or the number of obstacles that come my way.
How can people around the world help and support you?
I hope to find people who love to see the world through my eyes and love to see me through the world and to invest in my filmmaking skills. That would be the greatest gift.
For anyone that would like to continue to donate to our efforts in Gaza, which are right now focused on helping people like Asil return to their homes in the North, please donate here.
