{"id":167431,"date":"2026-05-05T11:13:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=167431"},"modified":"2026-05-05T11:25:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T15:25:44","slug":"international-affairs-forum-hosts-palestinian-documentary-and-filmmaker-qa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.nmc.edu\/?p=167431","title":{"rendered":"International Affairs Forum Hosts Palestinian documentary and filmmaker Q&A"},"content":{"rendered":"

TRAVERSE CITY \u2014\u00a0The\u00a0International Affairs Forum<\/a>\u00a0(IAF) at Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) is proud to partner with\u00a0On The Ground Global<\/a>\u00a0for a screening of the documentary Land of Canaan with filmmaker Q&A on May 14 at Milliken Auditorium in Traverse City.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis project \u2013 and interaction with visiting filmmakers \u2013 represent a rare opportunity to bring humanity and compassion into public dialogue, around a region that has seen so much inhumanity, today and over many generations,” said Alexander Tank, Director of the International Affairs Forum at NMC. \u201cOur partners at On The Ground Global have developed lasting, impactful relationships with Dr. Nasser Abufarha, \u00a0the film\u2019s protagonist. We are so honored to collaborate and shine light on this story for our community. This free event is a continuation of IAF\u2019s investment in public discourse on the difficult issues we face as Americans and global citizens.\u201d<\/p>\n

On The Ground Global, founded by Chris Treter, has developed a long-standing partnership with Nasser Abufarha through shared work supporting Palestinian olive farmers, including expanding fair-trade markets, replanting olive trees, and strengthening farmer cooperatives through Canaan Fair Trade. This collaboration\u2014also central to The People and the Olive\u2014has connected Midwestern communities directly with growers in the West Bank, bringing depth and lived experience to the film\u00a0Land of Canaan<\/em>\u00a0and the dialogue this event encourages.<\/p>\n

About the film & filmmakers<\/strong><\/h2>\n

May 14 |\u00a0Land of Canaan
\n<\/em><\/strong>This documentary feature film presents a rare and intimate view of Palestinian farmers and their ancient olive trees – symbols of resilience, heritage, and home. Faced with ongoing political violence and the loss of their land, a visionary olive farmer in the occupied West Bank brings thousands of small-scale olive farmers together in fair trade cooperatives that connect them to global markets and create a future for their families, one that is life-affirming and nurtures their ancestral relationship to the land and the ancient olive trees they serve.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nasser Abufarha, Ph.D.,\u00a0Protagonist & Producer, Anthropologist<\/strong>
\nDr. Nasser Abufarha was raised among the olive groves of Jenin. Abufarha founded Canaan Palestine, the world\u2019s first fair\u2011trade and organic olive oil company. \u00a0Through his work he has connected more than 2,000 small\u2011scale Palestinian farming families to global markets, brought Palestinian olive oil to international recognition and funded scholarships and women\u2019s cooperatives. \u00a0His vision of sustainable, community\u2011based trade has been celebrated worldwide and is even more relevant today as conflict threatens to sever farmers from their land.<\/p>\n

Maggie Lemere,\u00a0Director<\/strong>
\nAward\u2011winning filmmaker and oral historian Maggie Lemere is a National Geographic Explorer and co\u2011founder of the Rhiza Collective. Lemere\u2019s storytelling focuses on the intersections of humanity and the environment; she is currently directing Land of Canaan, \u201ca National Geographic Society\u2011supported feature film about Palestinians\u2019 relationship with ancient olive trees\u201d . \u00a0In a recent interview, she said that making the film has become one of the hardest things she has ever done; as violence escalated in the West Bank the project \u201cbecame a historical document \u2026 because of the horrible escalation of violence in the communities where we filmed\u201d. \u00a0Lemere\u2019s approach uses oral history to foreground love, joy and connection rather than trauma alone, revealing a seldom\u2011seen side of contemporary Palestine.<\/p>\n

Event Details
\n<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Reception in-kind donors<\/h2>\n

Date:<\/strong> May 14
\nTime:<\/strong> 6 p.m. reception w\/ olive oil sampling | 6:30 p.m. film screening | 8 p.m. filmmaker Q & A
\nLocation:<\/strong> Milliken Auditorium, The Dennos Museum, 1410 College Dr, Traverse City
\nCost:\u00a0<\/strong>This event is free and open to the public. Register in advance at\u00a0tciaf.com<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n