As we witness the devastating violence in Gaza, described by former UN Human Rights official Craig Mokhiber as a ‘text-book case of genocide’, we stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people, their right to freedom, land, life, dignity and empathy. Together as colleagues and in solidarity with Palestine, LUX Scotland, Glasgow Short Film Festival, Take One Action and CCA Glasgow present a screening of Basma al-Sharif’s ‘Ouroboros’ (2017) in the CCA Theatre on Thursday 30 November, 7pm. During the event we will be joined by a guest speaker to be confirmed.
The ouroboros is an ancient symbol of a snake or serpent eating its own tail, variously signifying infinity and the cycle of birth and death. ‘Ouroboros’ is Basma alSharif’s first feature film – an experimental film in homage to the Gaza Strip and to the possibility of hope based on the eternal return. The film follows a man through five different landscapes, upending mass-mediated representation of trauma. A journey outside of time, marking the end as the beginning, exploring the subject of the eternal return and how we move forward when all is lost.
During this event we will be fundraising for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). A donation can be made when booking a free ticket through the CCA website here.
This screening event will be accompanied by a two-week long online screening of ‘Ouroboros’ on the LUX Scotland website.
With thanks to Basma al-Sharif and Imane Farès, Paris.
Basma al-Sharif
Basma al-Sharif (b. 1983) is a Palestinian artist working in cinema and installation. She developed her practice nomadically between the Middle East, Europe, and North America and is currently based in Berlin. Her practice looks at cyclical political conflicts and confronts the legacy of colonialism through satirical, immersive, and lyrical works.
She received an MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2007, was a resident of the Fondazione Antonio Ratti in 2009, and the Pavillon Neuflize OBC at the Palais de Tokyo in 2014- 15. She received a Jury prize at the Sharjah Biennial in 2009, the Visual Arts Grant from the Fundación Botín in 2010, Mophradat’s Consortium Commissions in 2018, and is currently a fellow of the Berlin Artistic Research Grant Programme for 2022-2023.
Al-Sharif’s major exhibitions include: the 5th edition of Kochi-Muziris Biennale, the Ruttenberg Contemporary Photography Series for the Museum of the Art Institute of Chicago, Modern Mondays at MOMA, CCA Glasgow, the Whitney Biennial, Here and Elsewhere at the New Museum, Berlin Documentary Forum, and Manifesta 8. Her films have been screened in the international film festivals of Locarno, Berlin, Mar del Plata, Milan, London, Toronto, New York, Montreal, and Yamagata amongst others. Her first exhibition at Imane Farès, On Love & Other Landscapes, with Yazan Khalili, was held in 2013.
Medical Aid for Palestinians
Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) is a charity that works in partnership with Palestinian communities to uphold their rights to health and dignity. MAP do this by developing effective, sustainable and locally-led healthcare services, providing medical aid during emergencies, and campaigning to break down the barriers to Palestinian health and healthcare today and for the future.
You can donate to MAP and find out more about the charity here.
Access
‘Ouroboros’ will be presented with captions and the introduction will be live captioned. The online screening is available to view with closed captions.
Sensory content notes: ‘Ouroboros’ contains scenes with flashing lights and strobe effects.
The theatre is located on the first floor of CCA, accessible via stairs (30 steps in total) or the lift. The doors of the lift are 80cm / 31.5 inches wide. The lift is 110cm / 43 inches wide by 140cm / 55 inches deep.
The theatre has a seating bank with one step per row, each 15cm / 5.8 inches in height. Removable chairs are in place in the theatre, which enable us to accommodate wheelchairs of any size.
There is no permanent hearing loop available in the Theatre. A hearing loop may be available where requested by our programme partners.
For more information please visit the CCA website:
https://www.cca-glasgow.com/accessibility
Image description: An aerial colour still. On the right hand-side is a beach and seascape, the green-blue of the ocean is topped with the white crests of waves. On the left hand-side is a road that runs around a block of buildings, the tops of cars on the road and people within the rectangles of the building’s courtyards are visible. The sun creates defined shadows.
Screening Schedule
- 7pm – Introductions
- 7.20pm – Basma al-Sharif, ‘Ouroboros’ (2017): 77 minutes
- 8.40pm – End
Travel
CCA is located at 350 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, G2 3JD. It is accessible via public transport and has limited on-street metered parking in the surrounding area.
For more information on how to get to the CCA, please visit their website: https://www.cca-glasgow.com/accessibility/getting-here
Partners
Glasgow Short Film Festival
Glasgow Short Film Festival hosts an inclusive community of filmmakers and film lovers, showcasing ground-breaking works of visual storytelling. GSFF is an independent charitable organisation formed to nurture and inspire diverse forms of cinematic expression, in Scotland and around the world. In everything they do, GSFF aim to be critical and curious, welcoming and accessible.
Take One Action!
Take One Action nurtures communal exploration of the stories, ideas and questions at the heart of positive social change. Through film screenings, conversation and enquiry, they bring people together to inspire a fairer, more sustainable and more fulfilling world, in Scotland and beyond our borders.
Established in 2008, Take One Action is an Edinburgh-based, independent charity founded by film lovers, cultural activists and globally-concerned citizens who believe that shared cinematic experience can catalyse lasting change. Through debate and innovative presentation, our activities bring individuals, communities, campaigners, filmmakers, politicians, academics and artists together to explore the connections, systems and cultures underpinning social, cultural, environmental and economic inequality – and empower them to envisage tangible action.
CCA
Centre for Contemporary Arts is a multi-arts venue in Glasgow. CCA curates national and international contemporary art in our gallery space and hosts cultural events year-round, sharing our building and resources with artists, individuals and organisations to create a citizen-led programme.
LUX Scotland
LUX Scotland is a non-profit agency dedicated to supporting, developing and promoting artists’ moving image practices in Scotland.