Palestine Solidarity Sudbury is presenting four screenings of the pro-Palestinian film “The Encampments” at Sudbury Independent Cinema over the next few weeks.
Presented in conjunction with Watermelon Films, the 85-minute documentary details the wave of pro-Palestinian encampments that spring up mostly on U.S. college campuses (as well as a few in Canada) in the spring of 2024, and the schools’ response to the actions.
Directed by Kei Pritsker and Michael T. Workman, “The Encampments” focuses on Columbia University’s protest in April 2024.
“The film begins by grounding viewers in the human cost of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza — using footage and testimony from Gaza-based activists like Bisan Owda and the tragic story of Hind Rijab, a young Palestinian girl killed by the IDF,” Palestine Solidarity said in a news release. “These heartbreaking scenes become the emotional catalyst for protests on U.S. campuses.”
The sit-in that started on April 17, 2024 saw about 50 students erect tents and establish an encampment on the campus, “demanding the university divest from companies tied to Israel.” The university eventually responded by calling in police to break up the protest.
“The documentary captures the spread of encampments to other campuses like UCLA and national backlash — provoked statements from media and politicians, revocation of student group statuses, ICE targeting of Mahmoud Khalil, and threats to university funding,” the release states.
“The Encampments” will be screened at Sudbury Indie Cinema, 162 Mackenzie St., on July 19 at 4 p.m., July 24 at 6:30 p.m., July 30 at 6:30 p.m. and Aug. 5 at 4:45 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Sudbury Indie Cinema box office or online here.