Life is Beautiful
![](https://wp.blackstarfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/1717537325137b250650371acde097923-1145x644.jpg)
Screenings
Life Is Beautiful tells the story of how director Mohamed Jabaly fought for his rights as a Palestinian and a filmmaker when stranded in Norway due to circumstances beyond his control. Through his personal archive and video calls, he shares his love and longing for his hometown, friends and family as he tries to make a new life for himself in the Arctic. The film is a love letter to Gaza, to his adopted hometown in Tromsø and to the empowering force of storytelling.
Thank you to our screening partners: Twelve Gates Arts and Jewish Voices for Peace (JVP)
Directors Spotlight
![A picture of a man named Mohamed Jabaly outside next to a lake with buildings and a bridge in the background. He stands out from the blue washed scenery in his bright yellow open sweater and colorful floral scarf. He has short brown curls, facial hair, a white turtleneck, and a happy grin towards the camera.](https://wp.blackstarfest.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FeatureDocumentary_LifeisBeautiful__mohamed_jabaly_director_portrait__photo_by_mohamed_badarne-e1719965621339-278x278.jpeg)
Mohamed Jabaly
Director
Mohamed Jabaly is a Palestinian filmmaker, producer, and artist from Gaza City. He came to Norway in 2014 and has since made a name for himself in the international film industry. His first full-length documentary, Ambulance, has been shown at several of the world’s largest film festivals and has won several awards. These include the One World Media Award for Best Feature Documentary at BAFTA in 2017, the BBC Arabic Young Journalist Award, the SunBird Award at Days of Cinema in Palestine, the FIPA D’or Award, and the Jury Award for Best Documentary at FIPA in Biarritz, France in 2017. In addition to his work in filmmaking, Mohamed has conducted filmmaking workshops for young people and served on juries for several film festivals. Currently, he is pursuing his MA in Fine Art at the Oslo National Academy of Art. He holds a BA in Moving Images from Nordland Film & Art College in Northern Norway. In 2019, he joined Stray Dogs production as a director, and released “Life is Beautiful” in 2023.
- Runtime 93 minutes
- Country Norway, Palestine, Qatar
- Language Arabic, Norwegian, English
- Director Mohamed Jabaly
- Cast Mohamed Jabaly
- Cinematographer Mohamed Jabaly
- Composer Gaute Barlindhaug
- Executive Producer Mohanad Yaqubi, Esther van Messel, Anne Fabini
- Producer Kristine Ann Skaret, Sarah Winge-Sørensen
- Production Design Gaute Barlindhaug
- Screenwriter Kristine Ann Skaret, Sarah Winge-Sørensen
- Co Producer Mohamed Jabaly for Jabali Film, Anad Abdelwahab and Muhammad Refaat for Al Jazeera
- Editor Erland Edenhold
- Sound Design Anna Nilsson, Filmreaktor
- Premiere United States