
Najwa Najjar
Directing
Biography
Najwa Najjar is a film writer/director. She was elected to the Academy of Arts and Sciences (Writers Division) in 2020. Born to a Jordanian father and Palestinian mother, she began her career making commercials and has worked in both documentary and fiction since 1999.
Known For

A free spirited woman dancer, Kamar, finds herself the lonely wife of a prisoner, Zaid, and away from everything she loves until she returns to the dance, defying societys taboos. At the dance Kamar is confronted with Kais, a Palestinian returnee. Sparks fly between Kamar and Kais, creating more than a passionate, emotional dance for the both of them. Matters become even more complicated when Zaid's sentence is extended. Kamar's life is thrown into turmoil as she becomes increasingly attached to Kais, and caught in the midst of her desire to dance and breaking the family and society taboos of the prisoner's wife's role while life under occupation rages on.
Pomegranates and Myrrh

Salma and Tamer have been married for 5 years in the Palestinian territories. The first time Tamer is given permission to cross the Israeli checkpoint is to file for divorce. In court, they make a shocking discovery about Tamer's father's past.
Between Heaven and Earth

Tareq is released from an Israeli prison and returns to his hometown in Palestine, a place transformed by drastic changes and filled with secrets, to find his daughter. As secrets are uncovered, light is shed on the stifling nature of contemporary Palestinian society, while revealing Tareq’s hidden past. Inspired by true events.
Eyes of a Thief

A documentary exploring social life in Yaffa before 1948 through a miniature portrait of a Palestinian couple, Wadee’a Aghabi and Naim Azar, constructed through the oral histories presented by their daughters and relatives.
Naim and Wadee'a

During the invasion of Gaza in 2008-2009 by the Israeli army, 1400 people were killed - there of 400 children. By the time the last cries of protest died down those names were already forgotten.