In this episode of This is Not a Watermelon podcast, we're joined by Oscar-Nominated and award-winning Palestinian filmmaker, Scandar Copti. We dive into his childhood in Jaffa and growing up in a neighborhood with a rich and tumultuous history like Ajami, to his rise as an acclaimed filmmaker. Scandar shares personal anecdotes about the challenges he faced – including at the Oscars – his unique filmmaking process, and the philosophical underpinnings of his films "Ajami" and "Happy Holidays." Join us for a captivating conversation about filmmaking, identity, and resistance.

This episode was recorded on March 25, 2025

00:00 Introduction 
01:48 Growing Up in Jaffa
02:08 Life in the Ajami Neighborhood
04:25 Cultural Identity and Language
07:03 Journey to Filmmaking
15:00 First Short Film Experience
16:09 Reflections on Political Speech and Censorship
25:44 Understanding Palestinian Oppression
30:43 Misunderstandings and Criticisms of the Film "Ajami"
35:41 Reflecting on Filmmaking Journey
36:19 The Oscar Nomination 
40:06 Power Dynamics in Collaborative Filmmaking
41:56 Facing Backlash and Controversy
45:51 Anecdotes from the Oscars
52:54 Creating "Happy Holidays"
55:57 Philosophical Insights on Freedom and Oppression
01:02:20 Unique Casting and Filmmaking Techniques
01:06:18 Final Reflections

Scandar Copti is an Oscar-nominated filmmaker known for his distinctive approach to working with non-actors. His debut feature film, Ajami, won the Camera d'Or Special Mention at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the 82nd Academy Awards. His second film, Happy Holidays, premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2024 and won the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay. Copti is also the recipient of the prestigious Sutherland Trophy and the Council of Europe Film Award.

Connect with Scandar 👉 https://www.instagram.com/scandemon/

Watch The Truth 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1c1EKDbEpU

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Mikey Muhanna 👉 https://www.instagram.com/mikey_mu/?hl=en-gb

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