Closing (Focus: Palestine)

The Teacher

Farah Nabulsi | 2023 | UK, Palestine, Qatar | 115 min | English, Arabic | 17+

The Teacher (الأستاذ) is the debut feature by British-born, Palestinian-descended director Farah Nabulsi. She is a dedicated human rights advocate renowned for her exploration of the Israeli military occupation of Palestine. She gained widespread recognition for her Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning short film The Present. Starring Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri, The Teacher premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2023) as part of the Discovery Program and received acclaim at major international film festivals. In a conflict-ridden land, Palestinian teacher Basem struggles with his son’s death and political resistance. His life dramatically shifts when he bonds with his student, Adam, and unexpected romances with a British social worker, Lisa. One day, the hostage-taking of an Israeli soldier by a Palestinian resistance group escalates tensions into turmoil. "I needed to make this film to cope with the injustice I've witnessed. The arts play a crucial role in changing the world; I believe film precedes them all. It gives voice to the silenced, thereby helping build the empathy and understanding needed to effect change." (Farah Nabulsi).

Filmography:
Today They Took My Son (2016), endorsed by British Director Ken Loach and screened at the United Nations, Oceans of Injustice (2017), The Present (2020) premiered at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2020 and won the coveted Audience Award for Best Film. It won over 50 International Film Festival Jury and Audience Awards, a BAFTA Award, and an Oscar Nomination for Best Live Action Short. The Present was licensed internationally, including Canal+ and Netflix Worldwide, The Teacher (2023), and Exception (2024).

AWARDS:

1. Winner Best International - Film Galway Film Fleadh 2024
2. Winner Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature - San Francisco International Film Festival 2024
3. Winner Audience Award for Best Feature Film - Washington DC Filmfest 2024
4. Winner Audience Award for Best Film - Kosmorama Trondheim Internasjonale Film Festival 2024
5. Audience Award - Brooklyn Film Festival
6. Audience Award - Cyprus Film Days International Film Festival 2024
7. Audience Award - Arab Film Days 2024
8. Audience Award - Houston Palestine Film Festival 2024
9. Winner Best Screenplay - Arab Film Festival Rotterdam 2024
10. Winner Audience Award - Arab Film Festival Rotterdam 2024
11. Winner Best Actor - Belgrade International Film Festival 2024
12. Winner Best Actor - Annaba Mediterranean Film Festival 2024
13. Winner Best Actor- Malmö Arab Film Festival 2024
14. Winner Jury Award - Red Sea Film Festival 2023
15. Winner Best Actor - Red Sea Film Festival 2023
16. Winner Best Actor Saleh Bakri - The Critics Awards for Arab Films by Arab Cinema Center
17. Official Selection Toronto International Film Festival 2023