Mohammed Almughanni: Director of “An Orange from Jaffa”

“An Orange from Jaffa” recently made the Oscar’s shortlist. The film follows Mohammed, a young Palestinian, who embarks on a tense journey to cross an Israeli checkpoint with a temporary Polish residence card.


Introduction:

With an incredibly soft-spoken and kind demeanor, Mohammed Almughanni was a true pleasure to talk to. His films are powerful and consistently relevant, one of the many reasons I’m such a fan.

“An Orange from Jaffa” gives a glimpse of a situation entirely foreign to me, yet I’m put right into the shoes of protagonist Mohammed. Almughanni’s humanizing of each character made the story hit home much more, assisted by the stressfully accurate portrayal of the situation. The film is not yet widely available, but it’s certainly worth a watch when it is.


Who is Mohammed Almughanni?

My name is Mohammed Almughanni. I am a Palestinian filmmaker. I was born and raised in Gaza City. At 18, I left Palestine for Poland to study film directing at the Łódź Film School. I did both my BA and MA there, in Polish, which I had to learn after arriving. Although I live in Poland, I often return to Palestine for projects, as my films focus on Palestinian life—the life I witnessed as a child and know deeply but others might not. This was my reason for leaving: to learn filmmaking and return to tell the stories I know.

Did you feel it was necessary to leave Palestine to become a filmmaker, or did you see a route to becoming one within Palestine as well?

Each city in Palestine is different. Gaza, where I grew up, differs greatly from the West Bank. I lived in the West Bank for a year with my father, which was unique. In Gaza, opportunities in filmmaking were limited. There were schools for journalism and visual arts, but for film directing, I felt I needed to go abroad. The experience of being in a different culture allowed me to test the stories I wanted to tell on a global stage and see how they resonated with audiences who knew nothing about them. This helped me gain a broader perspective on portraying Palestinian stories.

How does it feel for “An Orange from Jaffa” to be Oscar-shortlisted?

It’s an honor to be acknowledged by the academy. I never made a film purely to reach certain festivals, but it’s gratifying to see it being considered. My aim is to tell stories close to my heart with an authentic voice. Whether they reach a broad audience or just my friends, the intention is pure expression. I didn’t pressure myself about specific festival placements and was surprised when my cinematographer told me we were shortlisted. It was unexpected and thrilling.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict is central to your life. What is the importance of using your role as a filmmaker to spread awareness?

I want to express what I’ve been through and what my family and others I know have experienced. Growing up in Gaza, I met very few internationals, and I realized many don’t understand our reality. The portrayal of Palestinians in media often made me question whether to laugh or cry at the misinformation. My goal is not just to raise awareness but to express what I hold in my heart and offer a certain resilience through storytelling.

What is the most important takeaway you want your audience to have from your films?

I want audiences to live the experience, to put themselves in my characters’ shoes. Despite our different languages and cultures, we share the same emotions. I aim for people to relate to these characters from Gaza, not just see them as headlines in the news. My dream is to bridge the gap with stories that reflect my people, not just devastation.

Four Arab films are shortlisted for the Oscars this year. What does that mean to you?

The Arab world is vast, with many stories untold and underrepresented. Seeing more films from our region getting recognized shows a shift. More people from Palestine are studying cinema now than when I started. There’s a growing interest worldwide in our stories beyond just the news.

Why did you choose to include the moment in your film where a soldier yells at his mom over the phone?

We are all humans with the same emotions. A Palestinian and an Israeli soldier both yell at their moms, showing an underlying shared humanity. The scene reflects how situations can unexpectedly turn based on individual moods and decisions. It offers insight into how occupation works and serves as a hint for audiences to explore more.

Did you ever consider having the film end differently?

Yes, I wrote two endings. The alternative was more dramatic and closely related to a real story. However, I wanted something lighter, so I employed dark comedy to engage audiences more easily with the story of oppression and occupation.

What’s next for you? Any projects lined up?

I’m editing a documentary I’ve been working on for six years, titled “Son of the Streets.” It’s a coming-of-age story about a child in Lebanon seeking an identity document. I’m also planning to write my first feature film.


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