Doors at 7:30 pm- Movie Starts at 8:00 pm
- Special Guests - Twin Cities Amnesty Group 37 - and Sana Wazwaz from American Muslims for Palestine - MN will converse with Casket Cinema co-founders Wilbur Ince and Mark Wojahn after the screening.
- Donation of $15-20 will go to American Muslims for Palestine - MN!
- Please bring friends and BYOB. Admission is by donation.
Casket Cinema encourages you to open your heart this December 4 at 8pm to the plight of the Palestinians in the film “From Ground Zero: Stories From Gaza”. ‘FGZ' is a collection of revealing stories from 22 Palestinian filmmakers who capture their lives in Gaza amidst war. These films use a blend of animation, documentary and fiction. The films create a powerful testament to the steadfastness of the human spirit. These shorts serves as a remarkable reflection of how art can thrive even in the darkest times, showcasing the enduring spirit and creativity that emerge amid ongoing devastation.
Ultimately, “From Ground Zero: Stories From Gaza” is a call to action, We will gather at Casket Cinema to do a protest with Amnesty International, with their Twin Cities chapter, writing postcards to imprisoned activists form Gaza and around the world. This film will play on December 4 at 8pm, 2025. Special guests are the Twin Cities Amnesty International chapeter #37, and Sana Wazwaz from American Muslims for Palestine - MN.
Special Guests
Twin Cities Amnesty International Group 37 - https://twincitiesamnesty.org/
American Muslims for Palestine - MN-|Sana Wazwaz is a Palestinian American writer and organizer who has dedicated her life to using arts to dismantle Zionist colonial narratives and amplify Palestinian joy. She is the Chapter Lead of American Muslims for Palestine - Minnesota and a leading organizer in Minnesota’s Free Palestine Coalition. In 2022 and 2023, respectively, Sana led the National Israeli Date Boycott Campaign, where she mobilized consumers and businesses across the country to end their purchases and sales of Israeli dates. Sana was one of the leading organizers who fought for the passage of the historic Minneapolis Ceasefire Resolution, the first in the country to call for an end to all US aid to Israel. Her writing on Palestine has been seen in The Ghassan Kanafani Arts Anthology, Overtly Lit, Water~Stone Review, Hayden’s Ferry Review, and the Colorado College Fine Arts Center. Her creative nonfiction essay, “How to Say Survival in Latin,” which chronicled her experiences surviving as a student organizer amidst the genocide of Gaza, was nominated for Best American Essay 2025. Sana holds a BA in English from Augsburg University and is currently the Program Assistant at New Arab American Theater Works.
Synopsis
From Ground Zero is an anthology project comprised of 22 short films created by filmmakers from Gaza. Launched by renowned Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi, the initiative was created during the current 2023/2024 conflict and aims to provide a platform for young Palestinian artists to express themselves through their craft.
Each film, ranging in length from three to six minutes, presents a unique perspective on the current reality in Gaza. The project captures the diverse experiences of life in the Palestinian enclave, including the challenges, tragedies, and moments of resilience faced by its people. Using a mix of genres including fiction, documentary, docu-fiction, animation, and experimental cinema, From Ground Zero presents a rich diversity of stories that reflect the sorrow, joy and hope inherent in Gazan life.
Despite harsh filming conditions, Gaza’s vibrant artistic scene shines through this stunning anthology film, which offers an intimate and powerful portrait of daily life in modern-day Palestine – and the enduring spirit of its people.
Shortlisted for Best International Film at the 2025 Academy Awards
In Arabic with English subtitles.