Phoenix of Gaza - Film Screening
About this Event
Phoenix of Gaza – Film Screening is an in-person event for the general public, followed by a brief Q&A.
About the film
Captured just weeks before the genocide began, this personal film presents rare footage of Gaza’s beauty and the resilience of its residents. It invites viewers to see Gaza through the eyes of Palestinian filmmaker and journalist Yousef Al-Helou, whose recordings now serve as an archive of the place before its destruction.
In July 2023, London-based journalist and filmmaker Yousef Al-Helou returned to Gaza. A prolific traveller, he often shared his journeys on YouTube and Instagram. Equipped with a camera, he recorded what became some of the last footage of Gaza before Israel’s October 8, 2023 assault on the territory.
A descendant of refugees who grew up under Israeli occupation, Yousef was shaped by the conflict around him. Its harsh realities ignited his passion for journalism and his hope of sharing the truths of his homeland. Selected from his extensive archive, the film documents Gaza in 2023 and the impact of the genocide on its people, homes, civic, education and healthcare systems, and cultural and heritage landmarks.
Yousef’s sister and her seven children were killed in an Israeli strike on their home on December 10, 2023; they remain buried under rubble. Dozens of his relatives and journalist colleagues are among the nearly 50,000 people killed between October 7, 2023, and January 19, 2025.
Despite occupation, blockade and Israel’s military onslaught, the film shows Gazans’ creativity, resilience and a beauty that refuses to be extinguished.
After the screening
A brief Q&A will follow the film.
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
GBP 0.00 to GBP 8.50
