Statement on Recent Events in Palestine / Israel

Like many across the world, the events in Palestine - Israel that have recently been taking place have angered, saddened, and activated us once again to call for justice and freedom. There are many voices that need to be elevated above the team at Hurdle right now, but we felt it necessary to speak out.


Many of you have reached out to ask how Sami, Mohammad, Jehad and the others who filled our screens and hearts are doing amidst the current challenges. We thank you for reaching out and we are in touch with them. Though things can change minute-to-minute, they are currently well. Jehad told us, “Yeah man, we are strong.”


It is heartening to us that you are asking about the characters from the film. This was our intent all along - that when, once again, Palestine and Israel fill the news and headlines skew toward narratives or paint limited pictures, that you remember there are real people like Sami, Mohammad, Jehad who are facing this in a real and physical way. 


In addition, you may recall similar images from our film as what you’re witnessing in the news. What this should tell you is that though this is an escalation, it is not uncommon in daily life for Palestinians to face such injustices for the past 72 years under a system of oppression and apartheid.


We would like to point you to this article, which paints an important, detailed and comprehensive look at what is happening in this moment. It is important to be informed and then activate. 


Please take the time to read this: https://www.972mag.com/palestinian-protests-unity-jerusalem/?fbclid=IwAR032nWH359jYEIkMk1GxV2Vg90bcT3DzLavD58yIQlshfNBPlI3r3K_rN4


For additional education visit:

https://imeu.org/

https://bdsmovement.net/what-is-bds

https://www.972mag.com/

https://www.freedomfuture.org/takeaction



To reach out to your elected officials and make your voices heard, demanding the US stop funding Israel defensively and hold them accountable for human rights abuses and war crimes, visit: 

https://secure.everyaction.com/1bUDFJrq_kWz5sjKEeyoPQ2

https://www.dci-palestine.org/rep_mccollum_introduces_historic_bill_supporting_palestinian_human_rights



To donate to Palestinian organizations in need of your financial support, visit:

https://www.lajee.ps/index.php/donate

https://www.map.org.uk/ways-to-give/ways-to-give



Hurdle partners with New Day Films for U.S. Educational Distribution

Hurdle has an Educational Distributor!

We have a very special announcement today!
Make sure to read to the bottom - we have a Promo Code for blog readers.

Hurdle has officially partnered with New Day Films for our educational distribution!


What does this mean?

1. Hurdle is now available for universities (libraries, professors, clubs), religious organizations, K-12 schools, public libraries, corporations, conferences, non-profits and community groups to have their very own screenings of the film.

2. Hurdle will soon be available to stream on the amazing streaming service Kanopy - an education focused stream-service in which universities around the world give access to their students.

3. Whether you're in a living room with friends and family or in a packed auditorium filled with students or fellow faith-members, you can bring the film to your community. Just choose the specific license that fits your audience description best.

4. You can even book the director for a Skype or in-person discussion and Q&A following your screening by clicking the Book this Filmmaker button on the right side of our page.

“A Message from Director Michael Rowley on New Day Films:

Hi Hurdle Family,

I wanted to take a brief moment to explain why this partnership with New Day Films for our educational distribution is so exciting to me and the Hurdle Team. From the beginning of this project some three years ago, we set out to create a film that was not only of high quality and entertaining, but that could be used as a tool to create a positive impact. We dreamed of film festivals and awards, but more pressing was an idea of bringing the film to different communities that could decide what our and this conflict’s future holds. 

We always believed this film would have a life outside of the movie theater. We wanted to see it in universities where students are grappling with big global ideas and deciding how to apply their skills to create a more just society. We thought mosques, churches and synagogues could be an important place for the film to be shown - bringing people of Abrahamic religions together in an effort to have difficult, but productive conversations. Community groups, activists and politically minded folks could be equipped with our film - a tool to gather people together to rally around common ideals.

Now that dream has become a reality. Professors, faith leaders, community organizers, conferences and beyond now have the ability to share the film within their own context. This film is about people, funded by a grassroots movement and is now available to be shown with an intentionality towards creating impact. Hurdle wasn’t meant to be a part of a Netflix binge-watch, but to create conversations that leads towards action. Now with these screenings available to the public, that gathering of people and new conversations can happen. This is why we celebrate today. 

Please join us in celebrating this huge milestone and finding out how you can have an impact with the information provided below.

All the Best,”
— Michael Rowley || Director

Here's what you can do now:


1. Watch the film! If you have a group of people you think would want to see the film - go for it. Click the View Purchasing Options button on our New Day Films page and the process is simple from there.

2. If you can forward this e-mail to professors, activists, faith leaders and let them know why you want them to host a screening - that would be so helpful. We are available to talk and answer any questions you or they may have.

3. Share the news to your social media accounts with this suggested text:

"
I wanted to share that @Hurdlefilm is now available for educational screenings through @newdayfilms. Tag a: professor, teacher, faith leader or community organizer in the comments and encourage them to host their own screening! www.newday.com/film/hurdle

#hurdlefilm #newdayfilms
"

PROMO CODE:

Because you all have supported us along this journey, we are offering you or anyone you share this code with 10% off their purchase of a license of Hurdle through New Day Films. Simply enter: HURDLEFAMILY for your discount!

Hurdle - Official Selection and Closing Night Film of Bristol Palestine Film Festival

We are so excited to be an Official Selection and the Closing Night Film of the Bristol Palestine Film Festival! UK, we are thrilled to be playing this inspiring festival in Bristol. Don't miss our screening and all of the other great films - the program looks amazing!

#hurdlefilm #bristol #palestine #filmfestival

https://bristolpff.org.uk/2019/09/29/hurdle/…

Special Jury Award - Kendal Mountain Festival 2019

AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT!

Hurdle was just awarded the Special Jury Award from the Kendal Mountain Festival! We had an amazing weekend for our UK Premiere with three amazing screenings (including one for the Best of the Fest Award Winners!) Thank you so much for all those who attended, the festival and for the Jury for honoring our film in this way.

We are continually energized by each screening - bringing this film and important story to audiences around the world.

European Premiere: Festiwal HumanDOC

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We are so happy to announce we are an official selection of the Festiwal HumanDOC in Warsaw, Poland. We are so proud and excited for HumanDoc to be Hurdle’s International premiere.

November 22-24 - Festiwal HumanDOC : European Premiere.
Screening Date and Times TBA, Warsaw, Poland
Tickets: http://festival.humandoc.pl

Please make sure and to share with your friends and purchase your tickets!

Please make sure and to share with your friends and purchase your tickets!

UK Premiere: Kendal Mountain Film Festival

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We are so happy to announce we are an official selection of the Kendal Mountain Film Festival. Kendal Mountain Festival is our UK premiere and we couldn’t be more thrilled. More screening and festival information below:

Kendal Mountain Festival : United Kingdom Premiere.
November 15th at 7pm; November 17th at 8pm.
Tickets: https://www.kendalmountainfestival.com/

Please make sure and to share with your friends and purchase your tickets!

Gold Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature!

Wow! Hurdle just received the Jury Prize for Best Documentary Feature from the Social Justice Film Festival & Institute! Thank you very much to the festival and the jury for finding inspiration and merit in our film. We are honored.

You can watch Hurdle's Q&A following the screening here: https://www.facebook.com/SocialJusticeFilmFestival/videos/538927696865131/

From our International Premiere at Palestine Cinema Days

It was so good for the director, Michael Rowley, to meet up with Sami and Mohammad (of the film) and watch these young men be celebrated by their community in Ramallah in the West Bank. Hurdle was well-received with spontaneous bouts of applause throughout the film and people approaching to share how much the film meant to them. We couldn't ask for more.

There were so many wonderful films and filmmakers, all investigating, celebrating and documenting the Palestinian experience and it made this festival so unique and special. Also, the staff and volunteers were very hospitable and we all felt like a big family.

Thank you for having us and we will see you again soon!


NYC Premiere: DOC NYC

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DOC NYC is NYC's most prestigious documentary film festival. It's our humble pleasure to announce that Hurdle is selected to be a part of #DocNYC 2019! Hurdle will be making it’s New York City premiere at the famed IFC Theater in Manhattan on November 13th. Official Screening information below:

November 13th 2019 - DOC NYC : New York Premiere.
9:30 PM at IFC Theater 1, New York City.
Tickets: https://www.docnyc.net/film/hurdle/

Please make sure and to share with your friends and purchase your tickets!

Massachusetts Premiere: Boston Palestine Film Festival

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We're headed to Boston!

Join us for our Massachusetts Premiere on Sunday, October 20th at the 2019 Boston Palestine Film Festival. We are thrilled to be an Official Selection and a part of the program of a festival that "features compelling and thought-provoking films...from directors around the world offer refreshingly honest, self-described, and independent views of Palestine and its history, culture, and geographically dispersed society."

Join us at 11:30 AM at the Museum of Fine Arts for this special screening and a conversation with producer Remoy Philip. Tickets for the screening found here: http://www.bostonpalestinefilmfest.org/bpff-event/hurdle/

Hurdle's International Premiere: Palestine Cinema Days

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We have a very special announcement today!

Hurdle will celebrate its International Premiere on October 7, 2019 in Ramallah, West Bank (Palestine)! We are so honored to not only be and Official Selection of this year’s Palestine Cinema Days, but to be nominated for their Sunbird Award for Documentary Features.

“The name of the award refers to the Palestine Sunbird, a small bird of 8-12cm height. This bird is able to cope with overcrowded urban concrete buildings, in addition to the crawling desert. It has been forced to live in a different environment that the one it was used to live in - an environment that has green forests.”

For us, to share our film for the first time outside of the U.S. with the community that has inspired us to start this journey four years ago, is something so special. All along, we’ve seen our characters as heroes, overcoming obstacles and leading others to find freedom and dignity. And now we are so happy that they will get to sit and watch themselves on the big screen, surrounded by friends, family and the rest of Palestine. Director, Michael Rowley, will be in attendance as well as the main characters from the film and other crew who helped make this film a reality.

Inshallah, we will see you in Palestine on October 7.

Full Festival Dates: October 2-9, 2019

More information and Tickets: https://www.facebook.com/palestinecinemadays/ , http://doc.flp.ps/

HURDLE - OFFICIAL SELECTION OF TULSA AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL

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OKLAHOMA PREMIERE! Hurdle is an Official Selection of the Tulsa American Film Festival. We're grateful to be included in the program of this exciting festival.

Our screening is on October 10th at 8:30 PM at the Circle Cinema Theater 4. Grab your tickets and tell your Oklahoma friends!

http://www.tulsaamericanfilmfest.com/2019-festival-schedule/2019/8/22/opening-night-party-8llyx-dy7w8-rjp7k

#hurdlefilm #tulsaoklahoma #OklahomaPremiere

HURDLE - Recipient of Austin Film Society's North Texas Pioneer Grant!

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We are so very grateful and excited to announce that the Austin Film Society has chosen us as a 2019 Grant Recipient for their North Texas Pioneer Film Grant in support of our distribution. Thank you to AFS for being a continued support to our film, to Texas filmmakers and for helping us get this film out and into the world.

Congrats to all of the other films and Texas filmmakers!

Read the Austin Chronicle feature here:

https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/screens/2019-09-04/afs-announces-2019-feature-grant-recipients/?fbclid=IwAR18-qjHJD9NzWHLT01eCNMpqMQfNmRkuVepN0Y-yqH-q8OFIImLLRw2Pec

Hurdle featured during panel discussion on creative process

Hurdle director Michael Rowley was invited to share his process and creative habits as a part of a panel discussion by Art House Dallas and FLOCC Studio. He shared some behind-the-scenes looks at all that went into making Hurdle a reality.

Visit http://hurdlefilm.com to request a screening of the film or get in touch with our team to be a part of your panels!

Photos by Nat Photography

HURDLE - OFFICIAL SELECTION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE FILM FESTIVAL

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Hurdle is an Official Selection and the Closing Night Film of the Social Justice Film Festival & Institute! We are very grateful to be included in a program with films that strive to shine light on injustices around the world.

Join us for our Washington Premiere in Seattle, Washington on Saturday October 12th at 6 PM at the University Heights Center.

TICKETS HERE: http://www.socialjusticefilmfestival.org/?tribe_events=hurdle

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