2014
Canada, Palestine
75 min
Color
Humorous and thought-provoking, The Wanted 18 shows the power of mass mobilization and nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation during the First Intifada. The film tells the story of 18 dairy cows being brought to the West Bank town of Beit Sahour, as part of a self-sufficiency movement, which were then declared a threat to the security of the state of Israel. Using stop-motion animation, archival footage, interviews, and graphic novel cartoons, the film uses humor to get at a serious subject. This is a poignant film about nation-building from the bottom up, by the people not the politicians.
Director
Amer Shomali uses fine art, digital media and technology as sociopolitical tools for change. After studying at the Van Art School in Canada, he completed an MFA in Animation at Bournemouth, UK. One of the founders of Zan Studios in Ramallah, Amer works as an animator and illustrator of children’s books, posters, and multimedia productions. His work has been exhibited in galleries across the Middle East and Europe.