Born in 1960, in Nazareth, Elia Suleiman is a world-renowned Palestinian filmmaker, actor and screenwriter. He is best known for his 2002 film Divine Intervention, a modern tragicomedy that offers a unique perspective on the daily lives of Palestinians under Israeli occupation. This cinematic gem garnered numerous accolades, including the Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival.
Before that, he lived in New York City for a decade, during which he co-directed Introduction to the End of an Argument (1990) and directed Homage by Assassination (1992), winning numerous awards. Moving back to Jerusalem, in 1994, Suleiman founded the Film and Media Department at Birzeit University.
His filmography further includes, among others, Chronicle of a Disappearance (1996), which won the Best First Film Prize at the Venice Film Festival, The Time that Remains (2009), which competed at the Cannes Film Festival, and It Must Be Heaven (2019), which received a Special Mention from the Jury at Cannes and premiered at LEFFEST that same year.
Often likened to legendary filmmakers Jacques Tati and Buster Keaton, Suleiman navigates the realms of both burlesque and profundity with a remarkable poetic sensibility. His body of work stands as a testament to his artistic prowess and unwavering commitment to shedding light on the complex realities of life in the occupied Palestinian territories. A regular guest at LEFFEST, who has previously organised a retrospective of his work, Elia Suleiman will be the president of the jury at the 17th edition of the festival.
