“From Ground Zero” was created by Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi and designed to give a voice to the people of Gaza and to document their day to day experiences, many of which often go unheard by the outside world.
In a war-torn society, where artistic creation is extremely complex, the project sought to capture the diversity of perspectives of Gazans through slice of life short films, ranging anywhere from three to six minutes in length. Filmmakers were allowed to tell their story through any genre and cinematic storytelling platform, from fiction to documentary to animation.
From Executive Producer Michael Moore and Palestine’s Official Submission for the 2025 Academy Awards, “From Ground Zero” is a collection of revealing stories from 22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war, who capture their lives in Gaza amidst war.
Using a blend of animation, documentary, and fiction, they create a powerful testament to the steadfastness of the human spirit. This film serves as a remarkable reflection of how art can thrive even in the darkest times, showcasing the enduring spirit and creativity that emerge amid ongoing devastation.
Featuring the following short films:
Selfie (Reema Mahmoud)
No Signal (Muhammad Alshareef)
Sorry Cinema (Ahmad Hassouna)
Flash Back (Islam Al Zrieai)
Echo (Mustafa Kallab)
Everything Is Fine (Nidal Damo)
Soft Skin (Khamees Masharawi)
The Teacher (Tamer Najm)
Charm (Bashar Al-Balbeisi)
A School Day (Ahmed Al-Danf)
Overburden (Ala’a Ayob)
Hell’s Heaven (Kareem Satoum)
24 Hours (Alaa Damo)
Jad and Natalie (Aws Al-Banna)
Recycling (Rabab Khamees)
Taxi Waneesa (E’temad Weshah)
Offerings (Mustafa Al-Nabih)
No (Hana Awad)
Farah and Mirayim (Wissam Moussa)
Fragments (Basil Al-Maqousi)
Out of Frame (Nidaa Abu Hasna)
Awakening (Mahdi Karirah)
