SAFAR Film Festival: A State of Passion

A STATE OF PASSION
Dir Carol Mansour, Muna Khalidi | Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan | 2024 | 90 mins | Unrated | Arabic, EnglishAfter 43 horrific days working round the clock under constant bombardment in the emergency rooms of Gaza’s Al Shifa and Al Ahli hospitals, British-Palestinian reconstructive surgeon, Dr Ghassan Abu Sittah, emerged to find himself as a face of Palestinian resistance. With news footage of him pale and shell-shocked reverberating around the world, he spoke of a catalogue of horrors from lacerated bodies, to amputations without anesthetics, orphaned children with no surviving family, and the deliberate targeting of medics and hospital facilities. This was Ghassan’s sixth and most horrific trip to Gaza.  Where does he find the strength to face it again and again? How does his family process the risks he takes? The answer lies simply in their shared passion: Palestine, a passion they articulate through their support of his perilous humanitarian work.Premiering at the 2024 Cairo International Film Festival and awarded the Saad Eldin Wahba Award for Best Arabic Film, A State of Passion offers a deeply human perspective on the cost of survival and the ongoing fight for dignity.

AWARDS AND FESTIVALS
Cairo Int’l FF: Winner, Best Arab Film, Best Documentary Special Jury Prize
International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights: Nominee, Best Documentary

REVIEWS
“Grief, heartbreak, pride, rage, disbelief, and finally a renewed determination. This documentary isn’t merely about Abu-Sittah’s bravery or dedication, but about Gaza itself.” Ruwan Teodros, Institute for Palestinian Studies

“The remarkable thing is that despite its modest visual style, A State of Passion unfolds with the dynamics of a tense action film, unexpectedly culminating in spiritual catharsis.” Mariana Hristova, The New Arab

“Rest assured, this is not just a story of suffering – it’s also a story of hope. [The Abu Sittah family] are people you’ll enjoy spending time with, who will remind you of the good in the world and motivate you to keep fighting for what’s right.” William Mullally, The National

ACCESSIBILITY
Subtitles
This film will be presented with dialogue subtitles. Descriptive Subtitles are not available for this screening.

AGE RATING
A STATE OF PASSION is unrated. Unless it receives a rating before screening, only 18+ will be admitted.

Programme Details
The venue is open all day, so why not come along early to grab a drink and a snack? The programme run time includes an allowance for introductions and up to three trailers. While we will endeavour to accommodate latecomers, this may not always be possible. Please note that we reserve the right to refuse entry, without a refund, to anyone arriving after the advertised start time.

Please note the pedestrian entrance to Princes Quay is either via the Quayside entrance (next to Nandos), via the footpath from Waterhouse Lane / Bonus Arena, or via the Monument Bridge entrance. The Carr Lane entrance (next to Primark) is closed after 6pm. The car park entrance remains unaffected.

Contact Us
If you have any questions or suggestions, please drop us a line at hello@hullindependentcinema.com or on social media.