Synopsis
A Message is a short-form documentary draft capturing the raw, unmediated protests and performances of queer Palestinian artist Mama Ganuush while facing pink washing propaganda. Created by trans Palestinian artist Mama Ganuush, this film rejects the flattening narrative of tragedy. Instead, it posits Palestinian Futurism - a framework where those in exile are not merely survivors, but the architects of a liberated cultural and political future.
Content & Accessibility Advisory
This film is currently in a draft stage intended for educational workshops and community feedback. It contains sensitive material presented with the intent of historical and emotional accuracy.
Auditory Warning: Contains instances of screaming.
Verbal Content: Contains explicit references to sexual violence (r*pe) and mass atrocity (g*nocide).
Archival Footage: Includes brief political media clips of U.S. figures Donald Trump and Joe Biden for contextual juxtaposition.
We are actively seeking feedback to make this work more accessible. If you are an educator, accessibility advocate, or community member, please use the form below to share your insights.
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 synthesizes Palestinian folk art, Egyptian golden-era dance, and the spontaneous energy of clown and theater to manifest a tangible vision of liberation.
Ganuush is the founder of the Heritage Activists and Liberation Artists (HALA) Collective and the curator of productions like PinkWash and Cabaret Palestina. They are the driving force behind the JAHA Film Festival - an international platform for trans and gender-variant stories from the Indigenous communities and the Global South - and the JAHA Liberation Film School, which provides free education on trans identity and decolonial storytelling.
Call for Workshop Feedback
This film is a living document. Unlike a finished, locked picture, this draft is open to community dialogue. Your feedback on pacing, caption accuracy, audio mixing, and overall accessibility is essential to the final edit.
Feedback can be directed to: [Insert Email Address or Link to Form]
Explore Related Projects
Mama Ganuush Performance Archive
Technical Information
Format: Digital Video (Draft)
Language: English / Arabic (Subtitled)
Runtime: 3:50
Year: 2026