Short Film

The Phoenix of Gaza: Gaza in the Sky

Amidst the terror of falling bombs, a community grapples with the haunting fear of looking up, clinging to memories of peace and resilience as they confront the realities of occupation.

Produced by

Naim Aburaddi

Directed by

Naim Aburaddi and Kirsten Wilson

Project Description

How does it feel to be afraid to look up when blue skies drop strange objects with terrifying sounds? What supplication can be answered looking down when hope above is stolen by the abyss on the ground? Remember the sun and the olive tree, for in your heart, a sprouting olive does not require the sentence of a two-thousand-pound bomb Imagine GAZA before, during, and after Occupation Our skies were supposed to be peaceful and we were meant to offer them to everyone Look up for those afraid to LOOK UP!

About the Director

Naim Aburaddi is an artist, journalist, and media instructor. Currently a Data Justice Fellow at Princeton University, he is also pursuing a PhD in media studies and teaching in the Department of Media Studies at the University of Colorado Boulder. Aburaddi is the co-founder of the Phoenix of Gaza XR project, an interactive virtual reality experience that documents life in Gaza through 360-degree videos and a 3D replica of the city, showcasing its culture, history, and resilience. His work emphasizes immersive storytelling, exploring creative venues such as planetariums and black box studios to bring narratives to life. His artwork has been showcased nationally, including at prestigious institutions like Princeton and Yale. In addition, Aburaddi was featured by various media outlets including the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, BBC, Colorado Public Radio (CPR), and other prominent channels and newspapers. He is the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Graduate Student Activist Award from the Activism & Social Justice Division of the National Communication Association (NCA). With over seven years of experience in digital media, he has served as a digital content editor, social media manager, and social media specialist at several international media production companies.