Synopsis
A Message is a short-form documentary draft by trans Palestinian artist Mama Ganuush, capturing raw, unmediated protest and performance in the face of pinkwashing propaganda. Rejecting the flattening narrative of tragedy, the film posits Palestinian Futurism: a framework in which those in exile are not merely survivors, but the architects of a liberated cultural and political future.
Content & Accessibility Advisory
This draft is intended for educational workshops and community feedback. It contains sensitive material presented with the aim of historical and emotional accuracy.
• Auditory: contains screaming
• Verbal: explicit references to sexual violence and mass atrocity
• Archival: brief political media clips of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, used for contextual juxtaposition
About the Filmmaker
Mama Ganuush (they/them) is a trans Palestinian performance artist, filmmaker, and organizer based between San Francisco (Occupied Ohlone Territory) and Lisbon. Their work weaves Palestinian folk art, Egyptian golden-era dance, and the spontaneous energy of clown and theater into a tangible vision of liberation. They are the founder of the Heritage Activists and Liberation Artists (HALA) Collective, curator of PinkWash and Cabaret Palestina, and the force behind the JAHA Film Festival and the JAHA Liberation Film School, which offers free education on trans identity and decolonial storytelling.
Call for Workshop Feedback
This film is a living document, open to community dialogue on pacing, caption accuracy, audio mixing, and overall accessibility.
Send feedback to: mama@mamaganuush.com
Explore Related Projects
• JAHAfilmfestival.com/filmschool
Technical Information
Format: Digital Video (Draft) · Language: English / Arabic (subtitled) · Runtime: 3:50 · Year: 2026