After his film was featured in our monthly screening spotlight, we met with filmmaker Omar Gabriel for a live Q&A session to discuss his work.

Directed by Omar Gabriel, Don't Take My Joy Away follows two friends in Shatila, a Palestinian refugee camp. Omar and Omar revel in the small joys of life until violence suddenly disrupts their world. Forced to flee, they embark on a dangerous journey of survival, confronting fear, chaos, and the stark realities around them. Along the way, they must choose between remaining in the shadows or seeking the light.

Omar Gabriel is a Lebanese artist, photographer, and filmmaker whose work is grounded in a poetic yet raw visual language, shaped by emotional intimacy. His multidisciplinary practice unfolds through film, digital and analog photography, video, collage, and installation. He creates im ...