Foragers is a film about the complicated politics of foraging for wild edible plants in Palestine/Israel. Made in the Golan Heights, the Galilee and Jerusalem, it uses fiction, documentary and archival footage to show the tension between traditional food practices and Israeli nature protection laws which prohibit the collection of ’akkoub (thistle) and za’atar (thyme). For Palestinians, these laws further alienates them from their land - while Israeli state representatives insist on their scientific expertise and duty to protect. Following the plants from the field to the kitchen, the film includes reenacted scenes of chases between the foragers and police, and courtroom accusations and defenses, all with a wry humour. Foragers captures the joy and knowledge embodied in Palestinian food traditions alongside their resilience to prohibitive laws, raising questions about who gets to determine what is 'preserved'. 

You can read more of the story behind this film in this essay written by the filmmaker. 

We are grateful to the artist and LUX Distribution for allowing us to screen her film free of charge. She has requested that we collect donations on the night to support the staff and students of Al-Azhar University in Gaza, which will require significant resources to rebuild. Find out more by clicking this link. 

Please note, this will be a RELAXED SCREENING, this means: 

• There will be fewer tickets available (roughly 75% of the full space) so there is plenty of room. 
• There will be a designated 'break out space' if you need a break from the film at any time. 
• The lights will be on a low level throughout the whole screening. 
• The volume will be on a lower level throughout the whole screening. 
• The screen will be open at least half an hour before the film starts. 
• There will be sofas available to sit on at the front of the cinema space. 
• Everyone is welcome to sit where they like, and to move around or make noise during the screening if they need to. 

These resources were taken from Inclusive Cinema.

You can find more information about accessibility at the Star & Shadow here. 

If you have any questions about this screening, or about the Accessibility of our venue, please get in touch by emailing mutualaidworks@gmail.com.