We begin the evening with an introduction to the Free Gaza Circus, an extraordinary collective of artists who continue to perform acrobatics and find joy amidst the wreckage of their homes. We will lead a short discussion outlining our primary goal: the production of a film that documents these performers in real-time. This project is designed as a direct intervention—a vehicle to create immediate work opportunities for artists currently in Gaza and a long-term fundraising tool dedicated to rebuilding their destroyed circus center.

The program features exclusive footage of the circus’s current work on the ground, offering a rare look at the defiance of play in a zone of conflict. We are also honored to share a video introduction from Mohamed Khader, one of the circus’s founders, who will provide personal insight into the collective’s mission and the high stakes of their creative survival.

To conclude, we will screen a curated selection of short films from Gaza. These works provide a deeper, more nuanced lens into the lived reality of the region, moving beyond the headlines to center the voices and visions of those who remain. Every story shared is a step toward the foundation of a new center; we invite you to join us in making that reconstruction possible.