Film Description

Encounter Point an 81 minute feature documentary film that follows a former Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother who risk their lives and public standing to promote a nonviolent end to the conflict. Their journeys lead them to the unlikeliest places to confront hatred within their communities. The film explores what drives them and thousands of other like-minded civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for grassroots solutions. It is a film about the everyday leaders in our midst.

For 16 months, the Just Vision crew has been following the stories of ordinary people who feel driven to work for an end to bloodshed and occupation in favor of peace. We have traveled from Tel Mond to Tulkarem, from Hebron to Haifa documenting the courageous, painful and moving stories of regular people who refuse to sit back as the conflict escalates. These civic leaders navigate suicide bombings and checkpoints to confront militancy on both sides, the wounded and apathetic masses.

Encounter Point's Israeli/Palestinian/North American/ Brazilian production team of young women includes: director Ronit Avni (formerly of WITNESS), co-director Julia Bacha (co-writer/editor of the award-winning documentary, Control Room), producers Nahanni Rous and Joline Makhlouf, the first Palestinian female pilot. Encounter Point was edited in Jerusalem and Park Slope, Brooklyn, and features original music by Kareem Roustom, who combines classical Arabic melodies and instruments with traditional Jewish Klezmer to form a harmonious fusion that mirrors the subject matter.

Encounter Point's World Premiere was at the 2006 Tribeca Film Festival. The film screened at Hot Docs, the San Francisco International Film Festival -- where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary -- the Atlanta Film Festival, the Jerusalem Film Festival and is continuing to screen at festivals and theaters.

View the trailer and find out when it screens in your community at encounterpoint.com