''Like Twenty Impossibles'' ( ar, كأننا عشرون مستحيل; Ka'inana Ashrun Mustaheel) is an independent short film written and directed by
Annemarie Jacir
Annemarie Jacir ( ar, آن ماري جاسر) is a Palestinian filmmaker, writer, and producer.
Career Filmmaker
She has been working in independent cinema since 1998 and has written, directed and produced a number of award-winning films. Two o ...
in 2003.
''Like Twenty Impossibles'' was Jacir's graduate thesis film while she was attending
Columbia University
Columbia University (also known as Columbia, and officially as Columbia University in the City of New York) is a private research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhatt ...
. It is a fiction film shot in occupied Palestine during the
Second Intifada
The Second Intifada ( ar, الانتفاضة الثانية, ; he, האינתיפאדה השנייה, ), also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada ( ar, انتفاضة الأقصى, label=none, '), was a major Palestinian uprising against Israel. ...
about a Palestinian film crew attempting to cross Israeli checkpoints.
It received attention when it became the first ever short film from the Arab world to be chosen as an Official Selection of the
Cannes International Film Festival
The Cannes Festival (; french: link=no, Festival de Cannes), until 2003 called the International Film Festival (') and known in English as the Cannes Film Festival, is an annual film festival held in Cannes, France, which previews new films o ...
. As well as being the first Palestinian short film in Cannes, it also marked the first time a Palestinian female director walked the red carpet. The film went on to win numerous awards and was a National Finalist at the
Academy Awards
The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
, breaking new ground for Arab cinema.
Annemarie Jacir is considered part of the Arab New Wave Cinema.
Awards
''Like Twenty Impossibles'' was the first Palestinian short film to be an official selection at the Cannes Film Festival. It was a National Finalist of Academy Awards and won over 15 awards including Best Film at
Chicago International Film Festival
The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...
, IFP/New York, Institut du Monde Arabe, and
Palm Springs International Film Festival
Palm Springs International Film Festival (sometimes stylized shortly as PSIFF) is a film festival held in Palm Springs, California. Originally promoted by Mayor Sonny Bono and then sponsored by Nortel,here for Table of Contents it started in 1989 ...
.
*World Premiere, Cannes Film Festival, Official Selection, Cinefondation, 2003
*Best Films of the Year list - Film Comment Magazine
*National Finalist - Academy of Motion Picture Arts, Student Academy Awards
*Best Short Screenplay - Nantucket Film Festival, 2003
*Best Short Film - Palm Springs International Short Film Festival
*Best Short Film (Emerging Narrative) - IFP/New York
*Silver Plaque - Chicago International Film Festival
*Best Short Film - Institute Du Monde Arabe Biannual
*Best Screenwriting – Lenola Film Festival, Italy
*Best Short Film Second Prize – Lenola Film Festival, Italy
*Audience Choice Award - Polo Ralph Lauren Columbia University Festival
*Special Jury Prize - Ramallah International Film Festival
*Audience Choice Award – San Diego Women Film Festival 2006
*Luis Trenker Award for Best Short Film – 4Film Festival, Borderlands, 2006
*National Qualifier - Academy of Motion Picture Arts, Academy Awards
*Locarno Film Festival, Official Selection
*Edinburgh International Film Festival, Official Selection
*Telluride Film Festival, Official Selection
*New York Film Festival, Official Selection
Notes
External links
* {{IMDb title, 0387353
Philistine Films MEC
Films shot in the State of Palestine
2003 short films
Israeli–Palestinian conflict films
2003 films