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The Wanted 18

Amer Shomali & Paul Cowan
2014 | 1 h 15 min
This feature film incorporates live action footage with animation to tell the curious story of 18 cows. Acquired by a Palestinian community in the late 1980s, the cows were a symbol of freedom and resistance, providing milk for the Palestinian residents of Beit Sahour so that they would not rely on Israeli producers. Soon the illegal cows, cherished by the Palestinians, were being sought by the Israeli army as a threat to security. With humour and passion, this film captures the spirit of the 1987 uprising through the personal experiences of those who lived it.

Awards and distinctions

  • Cercle d’or Meilleur documentaire
    Festival cinéma du monde de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke
    2016
  • Founders Prize for Best Documentary
    Traverse City Film Festival, Traverse City
    2015
  • Special Mention for the Gilda Vieira de Mello Prize
    International Film Festival on Human Rights, Geneva
    2015
  • Tanit d'or de la compétition documentaire
    Journées cinématographiques de Carthage, Carthage
    2014
  • Best Documentary from the Arab World
    Film Festival, Abu Dhabi
    2014