Joe Blog

The Bioscope is proud to be the venue of the Jozi Palestine Film Festival this May
Tickets: R80.
FILMS: Al-Shifa Hospital: Eyes Of Gaza & Al Shifa Hospital (followed by Q&A with Healthcare Workers 4 Palestine)

Al-Shifa Hospital: The Crimes They Tried to Bury
Produced by Al Jazeera 360. Documentary, 2024. 24 mins. (Special screening with Healthcare Workers 4 Palestine)
This documentary aims to uncover the truth behind the atrocities committed during the Israeli occupation’s siege of Al-Shifa Hospital. It serves as a counter-narrative to the distortions and ensures that the voices of victims and witnesses are heard. The filmmaker’s primary goal was to document the first-hand testimonies of survivors and medical workers who experienced the horrors of the siege, capturing their stories in the very places where these events unfolded. In doing so, they seek to create an authentic and urgent narrative that maintains historical accuracy and humanises the victims. The film has resonated with international audiences, received recognition at numerous festivals and sparked discussions about war crimes, media bias and the power of documentary filmmaking in conflict zones. The film’s success lies not only in its informative ability, but also in its emotional depth - shedding light on the crimes the Israeli military tried to conceal during its siege of the hospital through powerful first-hand accounts.
Beyond its cinematic achievements, the documentary serves as a historical record that ensures that these events are not erased or distorted. The project embodies resilience, proving that even in the face of extreme adversity, telling the truth is possible.

Eyes of Gaza
Directed by Mahmoud Atassi. Documentary, 2024. Dur 1hr 10mins.
More journalists have been killed over a year in the Israel-Gaza war than in any other conflict since the Committee to Protect Journalists started collecting data in 1992. This hellish portrait follows three Palestinian journalists in Gaza as they are forced to put their lives at risk while trying to report. They feel obligated to continue, even though they know they are risking their lives in a conflict that spares no one.