“Film is not only a great way to deliver more Palestinian narrations by going beyond broadcasting the violence of war and showcasing the direct effect on cultural structures and institutions,” statedsecretary-general Mila Shokouhbin regarding the Palestinian Film Club. The visual initiative falls under the society’s many efforts to ensure that its members are able to develop greater awareness and a holistic view of genocide and war.
Most recently, the society screened A Tale of Three Jewels which depicts romance from the perspective of a 12-year old Palestinian boy and a Romani girl amidst the brutality of war. Notably, the film was shot entirely in Gaza. This follows 2 previous screenings of Bye Bye Tiberias (alongside Wits PSC at The Forge in Johannesburg) and The Voice of Hind Rajab as a quarterly arrangement. PSC media and marketing director and avid cinephile, Jules Enslin, notes that these have translated the unfathomable hardships into a language everyone can understand – a movie with characters and a narrative structure. This cuts through the geopolitical divide, emphasising the sense of shared humanity. Enslin further appreciates familiar and new attendees for making it a success. She also invites more students to come engage with the society through films that chronicle the humanity of the people involved in the struggle against occupation, settler-colonialism, apartheid and genocide.
The PSC has realised the importance of art as a form of resistance, with the painting of this year’s mural wall in April being dedicated to students in Gaza who have been deprived of their educational rights designed by one of its members, Mila Jordaan. Moreover, they continue to host Palestine Talks to ensure well-informed dialogues regarding Palestinian history and its global implications, per member, Aiden Piel.
The society has previously collaborated with and appreciates the ability to exist in the same progressive space with societies like UP&Out, Amnesty International, EFFYC, SASCO, and many others as noted by PSC Chairperson Ayesha Essop and Piel. However, she further explains the institutional hurdles faced in their mission. Despite not having any political affiliations, they still recognise the importance of collaboration and solidarity. Essop notes that in 2026, the PSC and University authorities have seemingly reached an impasse. Despite the move for a resolution to be voted on by the Senate in 2025, there are still no actions that have been taken by the latter. It is a shame that the University has not taken a definitive stance despite the ongoing atrocities seen in Gaza, with 90% of its academic facilities having been obliterated. The majority of the current senior EC will remain in office until July 2027 due to the much welcomed change in society terms, and will continue to apply the necessary pressure to combat the University’s neutrality.
Visual: Thando
