An Orange from Jaffa (2024)

An Orange from Jaffa is a 2024 short film written and directed by Mohammed Almughanni. The Palestinian-Polish-French co-production film is about Mohammed, a young Palestinian who tries to cross an Israeli checkpoint using a temporary Polish residence card. After being turned down by other drivers, Farouk, a well-meaning taxi driver, offers him a ride but he runs into trouble when his previous attempt to enter Israel is discovered.

An Orange from Jaffa, winner of Grand Prix at the 46th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival, was shortlisted for the Best Live Action Short Film at the 97th Academy Awards in December 2024.

Synopsis

Theme

The Jaffa orange serves as a symbol of Palestinians' connection to the land. In the film, sharing a Jaffa orange becomes an emotional moment that encapsulates Palestinian longing and loss.

Content

Mohammed, a young Palestinian student who is trying to get to Jaffa, sets out to cross an Israeli checkpoint using a temporary Polish residence card. He finally gets a ride with a taxi driver named Farouk. However, the checkpoint authorities discover that Mohammed's entry into Israel been denied before, and refuse to let him through. The film vividly portrays the toll of living under occupation.

Cast

Samer Bisharat as Mohammed

Kamel El Basha as Farouk

Nisreen Aljubeh as mother (background voice)

Ameer Khlawe as Assaf

Diaa Mughrabi as Ofer

Khaled Mayer as Etay

Razan Abo Odeh as soldier

Mahmoud Hussein as soldier

Nasser Bader as taxi driver

Jihad Shomali as taxi driver

Saud Rishmawi as settler

Alaa Khanjar as settler

William Abdullah as driver

Murad Al Jubeh as driver

Odeh Tantar as driver

Faeq Deck as driver

Production

The film is directed by Mohammed Almughanni and produced by Gaza Films, and Studio Indeks. It received financial support from Synecdoche, Lumisenta Film Foundation, the War on Screen program, CNC. The short film was sold to Arte television. The filming was wrapped up on 27 June 2022.

Release

An Orange from Jaffa had its premiere at War on Screen on 7 October 2023.

In february 2024, it competed in the 46th Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival and won the International Grand Prix.

In May 2024 it competed in International Short Film Competition at the 64th Kraków Film Festival.

In May 2024, It also competed in the International Short Film Festival Oberhausen.

On 3 July 2024, it was screened at the Freedom Film Festival, and on 21 July at the New Horizons Film Festival, Wrocław, Poland. In September 2024, it competed in the Polish Film Festival. In November 2024, it competed at the Leeds International Film Festival, where it won the Louis le Prince International Short Film Competition.

Accolades

See also

Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film

97th Academy Awards

References

External links

Official website

An Orange from Jaffa at IMDb

An Orange from Jaffa at Film Polski