In David Osit’s thrilling observational film, Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah, battles bureaucratic obstacles and ongoing political turmoil as he attempts to deliver his ambitious vision for the city’s future. Charming, thoughtful, and urbane, Hadid navigates Ramallah’s fraught political landscape with grace, wit, and an ever-present bone-dry humour as he seeks to balance the daily needs of his constituents with the eternal challenges of the peace negotiations that he hopes may one day bring an end to the occupation. Moving and dramatic, Mayor is a startlingly candid and at times darkly comic insight into the realities of political life in contemporary Palestine.

UK Premiere

Screening includes a Q&A with director David Osit, hosted by Saeed Taji Farouky.

Read an essay on Mayor by Ela Bittencourt.

Available: Block 1 (Wed 9th Sept midday – Sat 12th Sept midnight BST)

Please note: this film is only available to view in the UK.

“David Osit is an Emmy Award-winning director, editor and composer. David directed the feature documentary Thank You For Playing, which was nominated for three Emmy awards, winning for Outstanding Arts & Culture Documentary. He also edited and produced Off Frame, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and Berlinale in 2016. David holds a BA in Middle Eastern and North African Studies from the University of Michigan as a Wallenberg Fellow and studied Refugee Law at the American University in Cairo. He received his MFA in Documentary Film from the School of Visual Arts and is a Berlinale Talents and Sundance Nonfiction Director’s Residency alumnus.”