Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi Hosts a Screening of Leila Sansour’s film “Open Bethlehem”

As part of its cultural events and in the presence of HE Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development and HE Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director at Mubadala, Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, one of the leading universities in the UAE, hosted yesterday a screening of the documentary film entitled “Open Bethlehem” by the director Leila Sansour. The event was attended by a large number of diplomatic guests.

“Open Bethlehem” film aims to take viewers deep inside Bethlehem painting an intimate portrait of this iconic Middle Eastern city whose name has been celebrated in the world for millennia. The film is a celebration of the wonderful legacy the city holds for Palestine and the Middle East as well as a voice for all Palestinians and the challenges they are facing there today.

Commenting on the screening of her film at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, Leila Sansour, director of “Open Bethlehem” film said: “This is the second time I come to Abu Dhabi to screen my film but we are  delighted to be screening it, this time,  at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi which presents an important  cultural hub today in the Middle East. I believe that there is no better place to start building partnerships, before taking this film and the wider project to the USA, than Abu Dhabi- a sister city of Bethlehem and a centre that is now backing so many wonderful cultural initiatives”. 

Ms. Sansour added: “I felt that there is a great interest in the subject that I address in my film that portraits life today in my city- Bethlehem. It is a unique opportunity for the audience to meet the people of my town and learn about their history- past and present. I believe that Bethlehem is a model city that represents the best the Middle East has to offer the world. One Bethlehem poet once said: If you ever lose your way seek the light from the star of Bethlehem. Today, that search feels more important than ever for our own region and globally”.

Dr. Fatima Saeed Al Shamsi, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Administrative Affairs at Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi said: “Paris-Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is the best venue for showing the documentary of celebrated and unconventional director Leila Sansour. Based on our logo ‘A Bridge between Civilizations’, what attracted me the most through the film is its brilliant melodies that provides a deep harmony among the audience and transports us across the Arab and Eastern civilizations in a beautiful way”.

Dr. Al Shamsi added: “‘Open Bethlehem’ carries a clear message that, sometimes, if you want a better world you might just need a miracle. It advocates for an international campaign for peace in the Middle East. It also gives meaning to the saying ‘home is where the heart is’”.

It is worth noting that Ms Leila Sansour is an acclaimed filmmaker with an unconventional portfolio. She has produced over 15 episodes of “Encounter in Exile” documentary series for the Al-Jazeera channel, as well as a wide collection of independent short and long films. Moreover, she is the winner of several international awards, including the Columbine Award in 2006. Her documentary ”Open Bethlehem” will be showing in the US and Canada starting September 2016. 'Open Bethlehem' was also released in the UK during Christmas 2014.