​Exiled above the Arctic Circle in Norway and refusing to accept the boundaries imposed by international politics & rigid bureaucracy, Palestinian filmmaker Mohamed Jabaly insists on telling heartfelt stories from his hometown of Gaza. Despite his statelessness and having only limited connection to his family abroad, he manages to channel support from friends and his own creativity, adhering to his motto LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL. And throughout it all, he fights for his rights with integrity, community, and a smile for the world.

Mohamed Jabaly is an award-winning Palestinian filmmaker and producer from Gaza City, whose documentaries capture his homeland’s resilience and spirit. His latest film, Life is Beautiful – Al Haya Helwa earned global recognition and numerous awards, including the Best Directing Award at IDFA 2023 and the Best Nordic Documentary at Nordic Panorama 2024. His previous award-winning documentary, Ambulance (2016), screened at major festivals and continues to resonate worldwide.

Dedicated to fostering talent, Jabaly spent a decade leading film workshops in Gaza before moving to Tromsø, where he now manages the TwinCity program at Tvibit. As a key member of the Palestine Film Institute, he oversees festival delegations and manages the Palestine Documentary Hub. Mohamed has served on juries for festivals including IDFA, One World, and Nordic Panorama. Jabaly holds a B.A. from Nordland Film & Art College and is completing his M.A. at Oslo's National Academy of Arts.

Between 05.06.25 – 30.07.25 the Master's students in Fine Art at the Oslo National Academy of the Arts present their graduation projects in a joint degree exhibition at Kunstnernes Hus.

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