Women to Watch: Annemarie Jacir and When I Saw You

Festivals

by Sydney Levine
September 12, 2012 8:51 PM
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When I Saw You by Annemarie Jacir

Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir’s latest film When I Saw You. had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9 and has been selected as the Palestinian Oscar entry for Best Foreign Film. Jacir is part of a new wave of Arab filmmakers who have made a name on the international scene. She earned her MFA in film at Columbia University in New York City. She lives in Jordan after being exiled from Israel, which opposed the politics in her films. Jacir was named one of Filmmaker Magazine’s 25 New Faces of Independent Cinema and Variety's Rab Pack: The Arab New Wave.

Her first feature film “Salt of This Sea” premiered in Cannes in 2008 and was also the Palestine’s Oscar entry for Best Foreign Language Film.

"When I Saw You" is set in 1967 Jordan and tells the story of Tarek, an 11-year-old wild child, who runs away from a Palestinian refugee camp in search of freedom. Jacir lived in Jordan after being exiled from Israel, which opposed the politics in her films.

“When I Saw You” was produced by Philistine Films and producer Ossama Bawardi. It received prize money from Abu Dhabi Film Festival. Its TIFF screenings were sold out with a 40 minute Q&A after its second public screening. It is being sold by The Match Factory

Festivals