30r364 boek.qxd:awards book 11 - Prince Claus Fund

Elia SuleimanPalestineBorn into a Palestinian family in Israel, a situation that strongly influences his work, Elia Suleiman(b. 1960, Nazareth) is one of the most important filmmakers in the Middle East. A writer, directorand actor caught in an extreme conflict, he deals with heavy issues. His work is highly politicaland contains precise, sharp commentary, yet it avoids anger and bitterness by taking an innovative,low-key approach. Suleiman wraps his subject in a lively narrative graced with humour, visualsurprises, poetic moments, silences and sound effects. In his outstanding tragi-comedy, DivineIntervention (2002), Suleiman gives an iconic performance as the main protagonist in a series ofinterconnected sketches that combine delightfully bizarre humour with piercing insight into therealities of occupied Palestine. The film won both the Cannes Jury Prize and the InternationalCritics Prize in 2002, and the international success and popularity of his films have broughtPalestinian issues to a global audience. He teaches film and media studies at Birzeit University,and is a model and reference for young Palestinian filmmakers.Elia Suleiman is awarded for the creative structure, innovative vocabulary and superb qualityof his films, for his use of humour in examining universal humanitarian issues, and for hiscommitment to peace and justice for Palestine.[from the 2008 Prince Claus Awards Jury Report]Culture and the Human Body93