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Mayor

From Monday, December 28th, 2020 to Sunday, January 17th, 2021
Details
USA/UK | 2020 | 89 mins | Arabic & English w/ English subtitles
Category
Virtual
Film Type
Documentary
Cost
$10 per household, $7.50 for VTIFF Patron members; Free for VTIFF All Access Members

Virtual Ticket

Director
David Osit
Source
Film Movement

Winner – NEXT:WAVE Award – CPH:DOX
Winner- Grand Jury Award – Full Frame Documentary Film Festival
Winner – Honorable Mention – Philadelphia Film Festival

Sponsored by the Burlington-Bethlehem-Arad Sister City Program

Mayor is a real-life political saga following Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah, during his second term in office. His immediate goals: repave the sidewalks, attract more tourism, and plan the city’s Christmas celebrations. His ultimate mission: to end the occupation of Palestine. In a city like Ramallah, even smaller problems have wider political ramifications: building a sewage treatment center in the West Bank isn’t easy. Rich with detailed observation and a surprising amount of humor, Mayor offers a portrait of dignity amidst the madness and absurdity of endless occupation while posing a question: how do you run a city when you don’t have a country?

Critic’s Pick – NY Times: “[…] Mayor also stands out because Osit has thought it through in cinematic terms: He knows when to dwell on a striking image (such as Hadid examining a painting of Jerusalem on his global travels) and when to let a counterintuitive soundtrack selection play through.” ~ Ben Kenigsberg

 

  • “”One of the Top 20 films of 2020. …thrilling and perceptive. Essential viewing…”. ~ Eric Kohn, Indiewire
  • “Impressive. Engrossing. Mayor is a study in politics both micro and macro, showing what happens when the two come fatefully crashing together.” ~ The Hollywood Reporter