I recently saw a TV interview with Palestinian-British filmmaker Farah Nabulsi. It was a tough interview on BBC’s Hardtalk which is not known for pulling its punches. Nabulsi came through with flying colours and in the process impressed me with her humanity, commitment, passion and fearlessness. Here’s a little more information about her:

Farah is an Academy Award Nominated and BAFTA Award Winning Palestinian British filmmaker who writes, directs and produces fiction films inspired by socially relevant themes. In 2016 she started working in the film industry as a writer & producer of short fiction films. This includes Today They Took My Son, endorsed by British Director Ken Loach and screened at the United Nations.

The PRESENT, her directorial debut, which she also co-wrote and produced, premiered at Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival 2020 and won the coveted Audience Award for Best Film. It went on to win over 50 International Film Festival Jury and Audience Awards, a BAFTA Award and an Oscar Nomination. The Present was licensed internationally including to Canal+ and Netflix Worldwide.

THE TEACHER is Farah’s directorial fiction feature length film debut, staring Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri and British actress Imogen Poots. It had its World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF 2023), in Official Selection for the Discovery Program.

In her words: “The arts play a crucial role in changing the world and I believe film precedes them all. It gives voice to the silenced, thereby helping build the empathy and understanding needed to effect change.“

Farah has been invited to serve as a jury member at numerous festivals and as a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Biography

Farah Nabulsi is a Palestinian-British Oscar-nominated and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker and human rights advocate. She is the daughter of Palestinians who were fortunate enough to make a home in 1970’s Britain - unlike the millions who continue to remain stateless in refugee camps. Born, raised and educated in London, Farah began her career as an institutional equity stockbroker. She ended up with a CFA designation at JP Morgan Chase before moving on to build a children-focused business that she ran for 10 years.

In 2015, she started working in the film industry. She founded a production company through which she writes, produces and directs fiction films, exploring topics that matter to her and she created a digital resource to deconstruct the Israeli military occupation of Palestine in a way never done before.