Tacoma Film Festival 2009

The documentary Welcome to Hebron was filmed during more than three years on location in Hebron, West Bank. 17-year old Leila Sarsour is the main character of the film. Leila is a student at the Al-Qurtuba-school, a Palestinian girlschool surrounded by Israeli military installations and settlements.A former commander of the Israeli army is among the people being interviewed in Welcome to Hebron. The soldier is sharing his story of daily life under occupation. The film shows how the occupation affects everyday life in Palestine. Leila is a Moslem girl, but she does not fit the widespread western stereotype, characterizing Arab women as weak and victimized. Leila is strong, intelligent, outspoken and have her own idea of a daily life free from oppression and violence. Leila and her classmates are regularly attacked and harassed by Israeli soldiers and settlers. In this film Leila is chatting on MSN, discussing Jimi Hendrix with her mother and sharing her vision of a middle east of coexistence and peace.Filmmaker Terje Carlsson is a freelance journalist based for many years in Jerusalem, working mostly for Swedish National Radio and Television. This is his first full-length documentary and it was broadcasted on Swedish TV (SVT) in February 2008. Stockholm Film Festival wrote the following about the film:'Never afraid of getting in close with his handheld camera, director Terje Carlsson is a clever observer, not shying away from controversy, instead letting the situations play themselves out without interruption.'Festivals:November 2007 - Stockholm International Film Festival, Sweden (world premiere).Nov 2007 - Oslo International Film Festival, Norway.March 2008 - International Children & Young People´s Film Festival, Malmö, Sweden.June 2008 - Huesca Film Festival, Spain.Sept 2008 - Auburn International Film Festival Children & Young Adults, Australia.Sept 2008 - Split International Film Festival, Croatia.Oct 2008 - The Mediterranean Film Festival, Montpellier, France.Oct 2008 - Terra di Tutti Film Festival, Bologna, Italy.Nov 2008 - FICI International Children and Young Film Festival, Madrid, Spain.Nov 2008 - Kassel Documentary Film and Video Festival, Germany.Dec 2008 - Northern Lights Film Festival, Newcastle, England.Mar 2009 - Roma Independent Film Festival, Italy.Mar 2009 - Flores Puntodoc Film Festial, Turin, Italy.Apr 2009 - Signes de Nuit Film Festival, Paris, France.Apr 2009 - Festival International du Cinema Mediteraneen de Tetouan, Morocco.Apr 2009 - Oxdox International Film Festival, Oxford, England.May 2009 - Kristiansand Children & Youth Film Festival, Norway.