On May 13, Freedom Advocacy Network welcomed back Samantha Youseff. Thank you to my dear friend Glenn B for connecting us. Last time we hosted Samantha, we had such a riveting conversation that no one wanted the discussion to end. This time, the same thing happened – everyone was hanging on every word Samantha said.
Recording: https://youtu.be/XD6kMxYFQ-4
Agenda:
Propaganda, Politics, Academy Awards, & Film
Understanding the role of Hollywood, the use of film in world view shaping, and how imperial systems co-opt Palestinian narratives through film using zionist logics. Through interrogation of First and Second cinema, this conversation will touch upon why Third cinema is so important. The focus is on improving media literacy through an awareness of the artistic techniques employed in films and the structural design of the Hollywood apparatus.
Short Bio: Samantha Youssef is an award-winning art and animation director whose expertise spans feature animated films, VFX blockbusters, and AAA games. As a former Disney-animator, director, and artistic consultant, she guides productions through every creative stage — from concept to final animation; pre-production through production to post-production — ensuring cohesive artistic vision. Samantha is Palestinian and Ukrainian, and draws inspiration from the rich artistry of her cultural heritage.
https://linktr.ee/freedomadvocacynetwork link to join the meeting
Links:
https://www.studio-technique.com/about
https://www.instagram.com/samanthasketches
https://linktr.ee/samanthasketches
https://www.globalpolicyjournal.com/blog/11/02/2025/theory-decolonial-imaginations
https://www.studio-technique.com/blog/2026/2/4/politics-in-academy-and-film
https://www.studio-technique.com/blog/2026/3/31/conversations-on-palestinian-films-with-drball
Housekeeping:
- Online workshop “Talking about Palestine”, next session May 21. The workshop helps you grow your confidence and capabilities, to add your voice and take control in reframing the narrative. Register at: https://www.angryandfearless.org/workshop-registration/
- Antisemitism without Zionism: Too much of the anti-semitism space is tainted by Zionist worldviews. Our friend Azra wants to organize anti-semitism work that is also rooted with anti-Zionism. Are you interested in organizing such efforts? Please connect with Azra. durica@sympatico.ca
Notes:
- Has done an analysis on “Voice of Hind Rajab” movie and how that’s also part of settler colonial imperial complex
- The coopting has been happening by Hollywood Blockbuster to what we think are “Independent” movie makers
- “Third Cinema” is actually revolutionary cinema
- Blockbuster and second cinema are aligned with imperial goals and hegemony
- Last year people were saying “Superman” was pro Palestinian – but it wasn’t – there were a lot of problems in the film
- Arabs don’t exist – Indians get some representation – the “ooga booga” people – people who have no agency or say – reliant on Superman to save them
- Films that have any American military, it has Pentagon association – these films act has money laundering opportunities to further the genocide
- Supporting movies like Superman transfers money to arms industry – that’s not even accounting for racism, propaganda, etc. which focuses on American exceptionalism
- Andor – A Star Wars series – a genocide happens in the series – left leaning publications drew parallel to Palestine
- It’s not an indicator that tides are turning – it’s like a model of “you feel like you have been seen – but then after that go back to brunch”
- “Ewoks” were modelled after the Viet-cong – and even that was done in a dehumanizing way – it is done to “pacify the public”
- “Star Wars is always used for foreign policy events”
- “We are literally paying money to bomb our children”
- “Foundationally the Voice of Hind Rajab film, French Tunisian studio, film was being distributed by CAA… has done a lot of collaboration and association with Zionists – a French billionaire is behind CAA”
- People like Brad Pitt and Guaqim Pheonix are essentially employees of CAA
- It’s not a coincidents that Chris Evans and Scarlet Johansen are in action and romantic movies together
- The same CAA agency fired anyone that spoke about Palestine
- Actors that were cast were Jordanian-Palestinian – who tend to be tied to Jordan monarchy, which is complicit with Zionism
- The film was a history revisionist project – no context of the genocide in the movie – it’s almost like it was a normal day
- Hind was shown like an exception – even though she was literally amongst 20,000 children killed
- They established right away “why are they calling from there it’s a restricted war zone”
- They never said the words Palestine, Palestinian, Israel or IDF
- It was a generic “heist timeline”
- It’s a template that movies follow to psychologically take you through the movie
- This film also causes films by Palestinian directors to not be shortlisted for awards
- Hind is the one name that created cracks in the propaganda bubble – so that’s why this story had to be coopted
- The movie is “incredibly dehumanizing” – “Hind was just an object” – “it was gamified” – “they were competing so much… they were yelling Hind’s mother”… “the movie uses every single psychological trick to make the audience feel a certain way”
- “People come out of the movie crying”…”people can’t properly analyze what they have consumed in that state”
- “They never once said that IOF was firing at Hind’s car”
- The scholarship has never looked at the scripts in this kind of detail – who is shaping it, who’s directing, who’s writing, who’s distributing, etc.
- The US hollywood and military industry
- “Hollywood apparatus… we don’t realize what we are up against… we don’t critically assess”
- “I have had lots of support from Black community… despite criticizing Black led movies [like Black Panther]”
- https://foreverpeacenow.com/ – Vahid Razavi’s documentary
- This is not a Palestinian film. The director is not Palestinian.
- The Voice of Hind Rajab movie does a lot more damage than good
- “There is nothing that humanized Hind… that is not a win for Palestinians… the movie is very stressful… the whole film is very emotional… at the end of it you don’t even know how you feel”
- “As Palestinians in the diaspora we need to ask… is American imperialism more important or is Free Palestine more important”
- “We have become addicted to films… like taking a heroine shot”
- “There is an emotional addiction [to movies]”
- Art should be for the community
- We need to wean ourselves off hollywood
Freedom Advocacy Network 
Leave a comment