From Ground Zero

We present From Ground Zero, a powerful collection of short films by 22 Palestinian filmmakers living through war and genocide in Gaza.

The stories in Palestine’s Official Submission for the 2025 Academy Awards, From Ground Zero, capture the unyielding steadfastness of the human spirit and enduring creativity that thrives even in the face of relentless devastation through a unique blend of animation, documentary, and fiction.

From Ground Zero was created by filmmaker Rashid Masharawi and designed to give a voice to the people of Gaza and to document their day-to-day experiences, many of which often go unheard by the outside world. In a war-torn society, where artistic creation is extremely complex, the project sought to capture the diversity of perspectives of Gazans through slice-of-life short films, ranging anywhere from three to six minutes in length. Filmmakers were allowed to tell their story through any genre and cinematic storytelling platform, from fiction to documentary to animation.

After the film we will hear from Zohaib Qureshi, a doctor in physical therapy. Dr. Qureshi works  in Neuro-Oncology Amputee Rehab in Dallas, Texas.  He volunteered in Gaza  and came back in March 2026.

The film will be shown in the Parish Hall of St. James Episcopal Church, three blocks north of Porter Square in Cambridge.  The location can be confusing.  If you have not been to the venue before, please review these directions and arrive a few minutes early to make sure you find us!