Organized by the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, with support from the Cooper Fund for Israeli Film and Television. Co-sponsored by the UCLA Center for Near Eastern Studies and Hillel at UCLA.
About the Film
Children of Peace follows the lives of individuals raised in the Israeli village of Neve Shalom/Wahat al Salam—the only community in the world where Palestinians and Israelis choose to live together. Born from a dream to challenge nationalities and histories, this village, founded in the 1970s, faced internal and external challenges as it raised a new generation. Now grown, these "Children of Peace" navigate political turmoil, war, and societal segregation.
The documentary gained acclaim as an official selection at the prestigious Docaviv Film Festival and numerous other film festivals world wide, and has also garnered significant awards at various international film festivals:
Grand Prize SimFest International Film & TV Festival • Grand Prize & Best Documentary Warsaw Jewish Film Festival • Best Documentary Twelve Lions Film Festival • Best of Fest, Walter's Pick & Best Documentary Audience Award Twin Cities Jewish Film Festival • Best SuperDoc & Grand Prize Notfilm Festival
Runtime: 58 Minutes
Languages: Arabic & Hebrew (with English Subtitles)
About the Speaker
Director Maayan Schwartz, born and raised in Neve Shalom-Wahat al Salam, brings a unique perspective to his documentary filmmaking. His films explore the human experience, emphasizing the importance of understanding and empathy across cultural boundaries. Maayan, a graduate of Sapir Film School, has directed notable short films, including My Friend, Yaniv—an official selection of International Documentary Film Festival, Amsterdam (IDFA) 2016. Children of Peace marks his debut documentary feature film.
Watch the Trailer
DISCLAIMER: The views or opinions of our guest speakers and the content of their presentations do not necessarily reflect the views of the UCLA Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies. Hosting speakers does not constitute an endorsement of the speaker's views or opinions.
Sponsor(s): Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, Center for Near Eastern Studies, Cooper Fund for Israeli Film and Television, Hillel at UCLA.