THERE IN GAZA

A feature documentary by Lila Ben Saala Place

In war-torn Gaza, a young teacher builds a fragile sanctuary of poetry and hope for children devastated by loss, as their resilience defies the destruction closing in around them.

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About the Film

Set against Gaza’s ongoing destruction, There in Gaza follows Karam, a 20-year-old marketing student, who builds a makeshift “School of Hope” to help children reclaim their voices through English and poetry.

Through the stories of Maram, Wafa, and Yazan—each marked by war and personal loss—the film offers a raw, intimate portrait of youth refusing to surrender to silence. Their words become resistance. Their learning becomes survival.

This documentary is not just about conflict—it’s about courage, education, and the power of human connection amidst ruin.

Director’s Note

"It’s not a political film. It’s a film told at human level — about a generation trying to grow up amid ruins and chaos. It follows the journey of a young marketing student who has taken it upon himself to become a hope maker. Through the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish, he teaches his students the power of words, offering them a window onto a world where the sound of bombs has no place. Their strength is a lesson in humility. Their story? An echo of life that deserves to be heard beyond the borders of Gaza."

-Lila Ben Saala Place

Team

Lila Ben Saala Place

Director

Journalist, Writer and Director, Lila knows Gaza well after having been there twenty times. Palestinian culture is familiar to her, she comes from a family of Algerian origin, and intimately understands the wounds caused by colonisation and wars. This film is for her a testimony that life remains stronger than anything.

Soliman Hejji

‭Director of Photography

Soliman is‬‭ from‬‭ Gaza.‬‭ He is the owner of F‬‭HQ‬‭ Media‬‭. In‬‭ 15 years,‬‭ he‬‭ worked‬‭ for‬‭ National‬‭ Geographic,‬‭ The‬‭ New‬ York‬‭ Times,‬‭ The‬‭ Washington‬‭ Post‬‭ and‬‭ Al‬‭ Jazeera‬ English.‬‭ He‬‭ knows‬‭ that‬‭ this‬‭ war‬‭ is‬‭ the‬‭ deadliest.‬‭ For‬ him,‬‭ Gaza‬‭ will‬‭ disappear.‬‭ Like‬‭ Lila,‬‭ this‬‭ film‬‭ will‬‭ be‬‭ a‬ film‬‭ for‬‭ Palestinian‬‭ memory‬‭ which‬‭ he‬‭ calls‬‭ “the‬ Second‬‭ Nakba”.‬

Franck Danicourt

Assistant Director

After‬‭ working‬‭ as‬‭ a‬‭ production‬‭ manager‬‭ in Paris,‬‭ he‬‭ decided‬‭ to‬‭ start‬‭ directing.‬‭ Frank‬‭ will‬‭ do‬‭ everything‬‭ he‬‭ can‬‭ to‬ allow‬‭ these‬‭ children‬‭ to‬‭ exist‬‭ in‬‭ eyes‬‭ of‬‭ a‬‭ world‬‭ that‬‭ doesn't‬‭ look‬‭ at‬ them‬‭ enough‬.

Amer Nasser

Editor

Born in 1991 in Gaza, this Palestinian photographer and filmmaker is known for works portraying the realities of Palestinian refugees and life in Gaza. A former UNRWA channel producer, he has directed and produced acclaimed films such as Sara, Gaza Small Studio, and Paper Boat, and collaborated with the Nasser Brothers on Once Upon a Time in Gaza (2025) and About Yakeen (2026). His photography has been exhibited internationally, including at the Arab World Institute in Paris and Tokyo University of the Arts.

Adolf El Assal

Producer

Adolf El Assal is an award-winning Egyptian-Luxembourgish filmmaker known for blending humour with socially relevant storytelling. He has directed and produced internationally acclaimed films such as Sawah, distributed by Netflix and Amazon Prime, and worked on numerous co-productions across Europe and the Middle East. His work has screened at major festivals worldwide, and he continues to develop projects that bridge cultures and connect audiences.