‘A Celebration of Palestinian Culture’ includes features, shorts

Bright Stars of Bethlehem and the Levantine Center’s “A Celebration of Palestinian Culture,” which takes place Monday through Oct. 6 in Los Angeles and Irvine, features an art exhibition, performances from the Diyar Dance Theatre and hip-hop singer Dam, as well as the L.A. premieres of feature films and shorts.

The film series kicks off Tuesday at the Harmony Gold Theatre with “It’s Better to Jump,” a documentary about the Palestinian residents of the ancient walled city of Akka in northern Israel, which is home to Muslims, Christians, Jews and the Baha’i. Filmmakers Patrick Stewart, Gina M. Angelone and Mouna Stewart will participate in a post-screening Q&A. The film and selected shorts will also be screening at Harmony Gold on Saturday after a matinee performance of the Diyar Dance Theatre.

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The L.A. premiere of Sameh Zoabi’s drama “Under the Same Sun” is scheduled for Wednesday at Harmony Gold. Zoabi will be on hand to talk about his feature.

Two more documentaries are scheduled for Thursday at Harmony Gold: Yasmine Perni’s “The Stones Cry Out,” which shines the spotlight on Palestinian Christians, and Mahasen Nasser-Eldin’s “Restored Pictures,” a chronicle of the life of Karimeh Abbud, the first female photographer in pre-1948 Palestine. Both filmmakers will be participate in a Q&A.

A short film program is also scheduled after a matinee performance of Diyar Dance Theatre Sunday at the Irving Barclay Theatre.

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