A Conversation with John Greyson, Michael Lynk, and Tarek Loubani: Queer Cinema for Palestine 2023

Описание: On the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of International Human Rights Day, the Embassy Cultural House presented an afternoon screening of Canadian director, activist, and artist John Greyson's powerful, experimental documentary, "Photo Booth" (2022) at University College, Western University, London, Ontario. This event marks the ECH's second time participating in Queer Cinema for Palestine since the inaugural festival in 2021. This year's event, programmed under the banner of “No Pride in Genocide,” took place in London, UK, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Berlin, Amsterdam, Beirut and Seoul, and closed with London, Ontario.

Professor David Heap, on behalf of People for Peace, introduced John Greyson and the film, which was supported by Western University's Film Department. Following the well-attended film screening and a dinner break at Barakat's, the evening conversation featured John Greyson and Michael Lynk—Professor Emeritus in the Faculty of Law at Western University and Special UN Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Occupied Palestinian Territories from 2016 to 2022. This conversation was moderated by their friend and activist, Dr. Tarek Loubani. The conversation was held at Conron Hall at Western University and introduced by ECH/QCP co-organizers Jamelie Hassan and Iraboty Kazi. Sara Rans of Independent Jewish Voices in London, ON, also participated in the opening remarks on behalf of the London chapter, who also supported this QCP program. Despite the cold and rain, the 70 guests who attended had a historic opportunity to hear from Tarek, John, and Michael about their experiences working in and on behalf of Palestine. Tarek introduced himself as John's prison cellmate, referring to when they were arbitrarily arrested in 2013 in Cairo and held in Tora Prison for seven weeks without charges. Tarek, a prominent Palestinian-Canadian doctor and humanitarian who works in war zones, including hospitals in Gaza, brought a powerful dimension to the conversation. Michael Lynk spoke on international law and human rights as it pertains to Israel's violations of Palestinians in Gaza and the Occupied Territories. All three involved in the conversation, while working internationally, have a strong history and connection to London's activist and cultural community.

Razan AlSalah’s 2017 short film, "أبوكي خلق عمره ١٠٠ سنة، زي النك your father was born 100 years old," and so was the Nakba was also screened in conjunction with the conversation. Western's Department of Visual Arts provided technical support and London's Queer Muslims Association also contributed to the realization of this solidarity event. The title for the program came from a line of a poem by renowned Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish (1941- 2008).

For more information on the event, please visit https://www.embassyculturalhouse.ca.