Qalandia

Synopsis

“Qalandia” is made entirely with footage Peggy Ahwesh recorded in the mid-2010s when she and a friend “broke into” the abandoned airfield, which is still under the Israeli government’s control. Ahwesh sees the decaying airport as emblematic of the politics of the area where, she says, “Land and ownership and privilege are always contested, and power is enacted through land grabs.” Over time, the silent runways and deserted facilities are gradually being reclaimed by nature. [Overview courtesy of Microscope Gallery]