During the first months of “The Swords of Iron” War, The Maaleh Film School, in conjunction with ‘Gesher’ and the Sapir Center, initiated practical workshops in writing, photography, and video as well as the screening of Maaleh films for war evacuees currently residing in hotels in Jerusalem and the surrounding area
The activity’s objective is to grant the participants respite and enjoyment through creative artistic activity, and a way to express themselves within the harsh and complex reality they find themselves in.
Team members, graduates and lecturers from the Maaleh School, many of whom lost their livelihood with the beginning of the war, worked initially as volunteers and, subsequently, in exchange for payment, in various hotels in Jerusalem, at the Dead Sea and Ramat Rachel.
Between 15-30 people participated in each workshop and enjoyed experiential in-depth activities that also facilitated conversations about their lives.
The film screenings were intended for a wider audience and included films with a diverse range of content examining Jewish and Israeli identity, grappling with grief and pain, moral dilemmas, Jewish culture as inspiration for cinema and more, and a conversation with the films’ producers.