Dancing in Jaffa

DANCING IN JAFFA

SYNOPSIS WATCH REVIEWS IMPACT AWARDS CREDITS OFFICIAL SITES

“ When you touch someone with respect,
something changes ”

Pierre Dulaine, four-time ballroom dancing world champion, is fulfilling a life-long dream when he takes his program, Dancing Classrooms, back to his city of birth, Jaffa. For generations, Jaffa has been a city divided by two communities that continue to grow increasingly apart. Over a ten-week period, Pierre teaches Jewish and Palestinian Israeli children to dance and compete together. The film explores the complex stories of three children, all of whom who are forced to confront issues of identity, segregation, and racial prejudice as they dance with their enemy. We watch Pierre transform their lives, confirming his belief that dance can overcome hatred and provide the first steps towards real change. Dancing in Jaffa is produced in association with kNow Productions and Tiara Blu Films.

WATCH THIS FILM

“Charming. Irresistible to behold”

Andy Webster, New York Times

“Eye opening and richly observed”

Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times

“Warmly entertaining”

Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter

“Marvelously moving and quite inspirational”

David Noh, Film Journal International

“Audience-pleasing and hopeful”

Basil Tsiokas, WhatNotToDoc

“Insightful, beautiful documentary. Immediately spellbinding.”

E. Nina Rothe, Huffington Post

Impact

viewers Selected for the 2014 Film Forward series, an initiative of the Sundance Institute and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, designed to enhance greater cultural understanding, collaboration and dialogue around the globe by engaging audiences through the exhibition of films, workshops and conversations with filmmakers.

Awards

Dancing in Jaffa has screened in more than 70 film festivals globally and is the winner of more than 10 awards including:

WINNER Best Editing Award at Docaviv

Honorable Mention – One Future Award at Munich Filmfest 2013 for films that “ethically as well as aesthetically, show that our world has one common future.”

Festival 2 Valenciennes – Audience Award

Denver Jewish Film Festival – Best Documentary

Peace and Sport Image of the Year Award

Warsaw Jewish Motifs Film Festival – Audience award

The Village Voice Critics Pick

Filmfest Munchen 2013

Editing Award DocAviv 2013

Audience Award Festival Valenciennes 2014

Best Documentary Denver Jewish Film Festival 2014

Audience Award Jewish Motifs 2014

Official Selection Sydney Film Festival 2013

Audience Award Washington Jewish Film Festival 2014