5 BROKEN CAMERAS Nominated for Oscar®

Palestinian-based documentary born of unique creative process between Palestinian and Israeli filmmakers

"Critics' Pick! A visual essay in autobiography and, as such, a modest, rigorous and moving work of art. Deserves to be appreciated for the lyrical delicacy of [Burnat's] voice and the precision of his eye." - A.O. Scott, The New York Times

News provided by

Kino Lorber

Jan 31, 2013, 10:00 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Academy Award®-nominated documentary feature 5 BROKEN CAMERAS, co-directed by Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi, returns to theaters in select cities by popular demand. The film is also available on DVD, Netflix, iTunes, Hulu, Amazon and VOD outlets making it the most widely available of all the films nominated in the Documentary Feature category of the 85th Academy Awards®.

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The first-ever Palestinian film to be nominated for best Documentary Feature by A.M.P.A.S®, the critically-acclaimed 5 BROKEN CAMERAS is a deeply personal, first-hand account of life and non-violent resistance in Bil'in, a West Bank village surrounded by Israeli settlements. Shot by Palestinian farmer Emad Burnat, who bought his first camera in 2005 to record the birth of his youngest son, Gibreel, the film was co-directed by Burnat and Guy Davidi, an Israeli filmmaker. Structured in chapters around the destruction of each one of Burnat's cameras, the filmmakers' collaboration follows one family's evolution over five years of village upheaval. As the years pass in front of the camera, we witness Gibreel grow from a newborn baby into a young boy who observes the world unfolding around him with the astute powers of perception that only children possess. Burnat watches from behind the lens as olive trees are bulldozed, protests intensify and lives are lost in this cinematic diary and unparalleled record of life in the West Bank. 5 BROKEN CAMERAS is a Palestinian-Israeli-French co-production. A Kino Lorber Release.

Co-Directors Emad Burnat and Guy Davidi are available for interviews.

Emad Burnat, the film's Co-Director, states: "This is one of the happiest moments of my life. The village of Bil'in is celebrating because of the international support for my film. As a child I remember watching the Oscars® on TV with the red carpet and movie stars. I don't recall seeing films about Palestine, the occupation or our struggles. Times have changed, and now the Oscars® will allow the world to witness an account of daily life under Israeli occupation – an opportunity most will never experience. The truth is powerful, it can heal. I hope this film can help heal misunderstanding about us during a very beautiful moment for our people and the world." He continues, "A filmmaker's dream is winning an Oscar®, however my dream is freedom for Palestine. We all have lots of work to do."

Co-Director Guy Davidi says, "I was very happy to hear about our nomination. This is great news not only for Emad and I, but also for the village of Bil'in and everyone involved in the nonviolent movement throughout the West Bank – as well as the Israeli and international supporters dedicated to this cause. In my own community, an Oscar® nomination will help bring the film to a wider audience in Israel, as it opens doors to broadcasts and additional screenings in theaters, and exposes students and other segments of the Israeli public to struggles that too often remain invisible. Beyond the importance of highlighting the political context and issues addressed in the film, I'm honored that the Academy acknowledged the power of cinematic storytelling in the documentary category. I am hopeful this will be a milestone on the road to ending the occupation and securing a brighter and more just future for Palestinians and Israelis."

Richard Lorber, President and CEO of distributor Kino Lorber, states, "It is a humbling honor to be associated as distributors with a film of such impact and importance," said. "As historic as it was for this landmark Palestinian-based work to actually be made by Palestinian and Israeli co-directors, so too is the unprecedented acclaim for it as both a profoundly political documentary and a work of art. We are inspired by the story of Emad, his family and his village of Bil'in, in Palestine, and doing all we can to share that with all of North America, hopefully echoing throughout the world."  

SOURCE Kino Lorber