In conversation with Emad Burnat

Emad Burnat is a Palestinian farmer. In 2005 he bought his first camera to record the birth of his son Gibreel. But when the Israelis started building a wall across his farm in the village of Bi'lin, he turned his camera to their theft.

This wall now runs throughout the occupied territories splitting farmlands and further creating difficulties for Palestinians. LIfe is tougher for them without access to their farmland and olive groves.

There were protests almost daily, with Israeli activists joining the Palestinians in what they see as gross violation of human-rights.

The result of this is a film, 5 Broken Cameras which covered a span of seven years of his life and the fellow villagers of Bi'lin.

It was co-directed with Israeli activist and film-maker Guy Davidi. The film is his personal account of the theft of his land and the persecution of Palestinians by Israelis in the Occupied West Bank.

The film became a Sundance winner and nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for 2012.

"When I film I feel like the camera protects me. But it's an illusion"

Emad was in Kuala Lumpur recently for the charity premier of his film 5 Broken Cameras organised by Viva Palestine Malaysia.

We caught up with him at Coffee 5 Cups at Plaza Damas 3 in Sri Hartamas.

Links:
http://972mag.com/director-of-5-broken-cameras-there-is-no-room-for-guilt-only-taking-responsibility/66642/