Questions to Arab and Tarzan Nasser, Palestinian film directors...
A few words about you, your personal history, and the way you work as a duo?
"Arab and Tarzan are two bodies for a soul and two actors for an action. We were born in Gaza (Palestine) and studied fine arts (paintings) there before starting to work in filmmaking."
Your first feature film Dégradé is presented during Cannes' Critics' Week in 2015, how will this project be decisive for the rest of your career?
"Since we started our artistic career, we have been used to the fact that every step we take towards the future opens the way to our future projects. Our film Dégradé is, without a doubt, one of those steps.
The spotlight it was given and the enthusiasm it received from all over the world, especially here in France, was very positive for us. All these points have therefore pushed us to work on our second feature film, Gaza Mon Amour, which will soon see the light of day."
Why did you decide to move to France?
"France is a fertile land for any artist seeking his or her space and to develop his or her artistic capacities, beyond the simple respect that the artist receives as such that seems to emanate here. That in itself is reason enough for us to live here."
You have benefited exceptionally from a long residency at the Cité internationale des arts, how was this valuable to you?
"The greatest mark of respect for our status as artists and for our work is to be awarded this long residency at the Cité internationale des arts.
The Cité has given us the freedom to start and develop our second feature film. Thanks to its centrality in Paris and all the aspects that build it, the Cité has had a great role in the development of our artistic work as well as our lives."
An anecdote about your residency at the Cité internationale des arts?
"We received the Young Artists Award in 2010 in Gaza, considered one of the most important and prestigious awards for Palestinian artists, for our first film project entitled Gazawood.
Among the benefits of this award was a six-month residency at the Cité internationale des arts through a partner of the foundation. Unfortunately, we were unable to carry out this residency because it was only possible for one person at a time. We had to go each in turn; we refused to part.
And, by a happy coincidence, when we came to live in Paris a few years ago, the Cité internationale des arts was there and offered us a residency that we were able to do together."
Arab and Tarzan Nasser are in residence at the Cité internationale des arts with the support of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Their residency benefits from the support and guidance of Usage du Monde au 21e siècle. For this interview, Anne Devauchelle, president of the association, talks about the program...
"As with all residencies, the support is centred on the artistic project and its step-by-step follow-up, to ensure that it is carried out in the best possible conditions.
But for these uprooted artists, it must be more global. A period of adaptation is necessary, legal and possibly medico-social issues must be taken into account, language learning... We rely on a network of solid and benevolent partners, in France and abroad, built around the Rencontres du Louxor, which brings together filmmakers, professionals and specialists in asylum law.
But on a day-to-day basis, support is provided by the Cité's teams. We are careful to be reactive in the event of problems, and better to prevent them by working upstream.
Thus, for the Nasser brothers, it took a year for them to obtain refugee status before they took up residence in the workshop-accommodation entrusted to us by the Cité internationale des arts and the UNHCR, with the support of the City of Paris and the CNC. Afterwards, everything was easy, because they are inventive, talented and hard-working, well surrounded by a loyal producer, and extremely positive!"