Architecture, Cinema and Politics is a series of events including a lecture and workshop by the renowned Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai. Dealing with issues surrounding the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in his films, Gitai, as a trained Architect, also has a unique way of representing human experience through time and space. Examining some of his films, theatrical performances, and multimedia exhibits, these sessions will explore the way he has been able to capture a more complete narrative and image of Israel in the context of larger global discourses. Amos Gitai’s filmmaking style sets an example for crossing geographical, racial, ideological and political borders to examine and humanize opposing groups to one another. His storytelling approach helps build a foundation for peace. Amos Gitai and his team (Laurent Truchot, Producer and Marie-José Sanselme, coauthor) will be available to engage with audiences during the workshop and at the Q&A session after his public lecture.

This series, curated by Ayda Melika, will be of special interest to those in Film and Media Studies, Architecture and Urban Planning, the Israel and Jewish studies, Middle Eastern studies, History, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, and Theater Studies.

Workshop (in person):
Thursday, November 2nd
10:00 am to 12:00 PM
Green Library, East Wing, Room 123 (Special Collections Room)

Lecture (in person and online): 
Thursday, November 2nd
5:00 to 6:00 PM (doors open at 4:30 PM)
Green Library, East Wing, 1st floor, Hohbach Hall, Presentation Room

Register here to attend in person or online.

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Amos Gitai was born in Haifa on October 11, 1950. He studied Architecture at the Israel Institute of Technology and received a PhD in Architecture from the University of Berkeley, California. He was a soldier in the 1973 Yom Kippur War, during which he was injured. He became a professional filmmaker in 1980 with his documentary film House and has been making films dealing with issues surrounding the Middle East and Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Since then Gitai has created over 90 works of art, which have brought him considerable international recognition in the most prestigious festivals. Gitai's work was presented in several major retrospective in Pompidou Center Paris, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New-York, the Lincoln Center New-York and the British Film Institute London. Seven of his films were entered in the Cannes Film Festival for the Palme d'Or as well as the Venice Film Festival for the Golden Lion award. He received several prestigious prizes, in particular the Leopard of Honor at the Locarno International Film Festival (2008), the Roberto Rossellini prize (2005), the Robert Bresson prize (2013) and the Paradjanov prize (2014). His recent feature film, Laila in Haifa, was presented at the 77th Venice Film Festival. Amos Gitai will visit Stanford University this Fall to take part in a series of curated events including a Film-Workshop and a Lecture on Architecture, Cinema and Politics at the Standard University Libraries.

Ayda Melika is the Gitai Film and Digital Media Curator at Stanford University Libraries. She earned her PhD in Architecture and Urban Sociology of the Middle East from UC Berkeley and is the founder of the Urban Media Institute. As a filmmaker Ayda focuses on sociocultural aspects of design, political socialization, and the spatial manifestations of collective activism. Her work has been presented in several festivals and museums including the International Architectural Biennale Rotterdam, the Venice Architecture Biennale, and the Museum of Modern Arts, New York.