Rimah Jabr

In present-day Nablus, amidst the confines of a home masking an ant nest within its walls, Aya, a depressed young woman, is faced with a life-changing scholarship offer to study abroad and caught between the enticement of her dreams and the weight of potentially abandoning her lonely mother. As the discussions about the persistent acts unfold, long-suppressed emotions start to surface. Through the lens of these seemingly insignificant creatures, Aya and Lamia find a channel to express their true feelings, ultimately leading to a deeper understanding of each other's struggles and desires. “De-Clutter" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of familial love, sacrifice, and the unspoken burdens we carry.

A graduate student is absurdly interrogated by a stalker and his two assistants over an old social media post. But there are strong similarities to a play he is acting in. As Zain’s interrogation plays out over 18 tense minutes, the line between fiction and reality blurs, and he slowly realizes that everything he does is being watched, leaving him to wonder who is truly watching. The film takes an abstract approach to themes of censorship and erasure, deliberately avoiding specific names, places, or historical events. Zain’s story unfolds within a surreal, theatrical realm, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in its emotional and political currents, untethered from any fixed time or geography - and to question whether he is concealing or revealing the truth.