In the Shadow of the Palms

Poster for the film

In the Shadow of the Palms is a 2005 documentary film. It was produced and directed by Wayne Coles-Janess.

It is the only documentary filmed in Iraq prior to, during, and after the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. It documents the changes in Iraqi society, and the lives of ordinary Iraqis by focusing on a cross-section of individuals. The aim of the film is to present audiences with a window into the everyday realities for those living through this controversial war.

Synopsis

File:ISP Cityscape 1.jpg

The film documents life for the society and people living under twelve years of sanctions and the regime of Saddam Hussein. When the inevitability of the US-led conflict increased and people across the globe protested the war, the filmmakers recorded the changes in the lives of the Iraqi people, focusing on a cross-section of individuals representative of the broader Iraqi community.

The film follows these individuals as they prepare for the coalition war against their country and as it becomes the target for tens of thousands of coalition cruise missiles and guided bombs. The film shows first hand the effects of the bombing campaign on the lives of civilians.

File:ISP bomb site.jpg

Festival Awards

Special Mention - Cine India International Film Festival/Indian Cine Film Festival (March 2007)
Best Documentary - Anchorage International Film Festival
Audience Award - Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival
Honourable Mention - Bangkok International Film Festival
Best Documentary - Tiburon International Film Festival 2006
Independent Spirit Award and Best Feature Documentary Nomination - Lexus Inside Film (IF) Awards
Best Documentary – Atlanta International Documentary Film Festival

Invitations

Cine India International Film Festival/Indian Cine Film Festival (March 2007)
Hyderabad International Film Festival (March 2007)[1]
Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival [2]
Singapore International Film Festival [3]
International Munich Documentary Film Festival [4]
Amnesty International Film Festival Amsterdam [5]
International Film Festival of India [6]
Bangkok International Film Festival [7]
The Commonwealth Film Festival – England [8]
Fajr International Film Festival – Iran [9]
Cinemanila International Film Festival – Philippines [10]
The National Museum of Photography, Film & Television - UK [11]
Arab Film Festival – Rotterdam [12]
Revelation - Perth International Film Festival - Australia [13]
Ciné Droit Libre Festival - Burkina Faso [www.cinedroit.libre.bf]
Lucania Film Festival – Italy [14]
International Documentary Film Festival –New Zealand [15]
Bonner Kinemathek Festival – “New Orient” Film Festival - Germany [16]
AMAL Arab Film Festival – Spain [17]
NORRKÖPINGS Filmfestival Flimmer - Sweden [18]
Chennai International Film Festival – India [19]
Artechock - Film Aktuell - Germany [20]
International Festival of Audiovisual Programs Biarritz – France (FIPA) [21]
Tiburon Film Festival - US [22]
Thessaloniki Documentary Festival- Greece [23]
London Australian Film Festival [24]
ZagrebDox International Film Festival- Croatia [25]
International Relations Film Festival - US
Ankara International Film Festival [26]
It's All True Film Festival - Brazil [27]
DocFest - US [28]
Seoul Human Rights Film Festival - South Korea [29]
Brooklyn International Film Festival- US [30]
Australian International Film Festival [31]
Winnipeg International Film Festival – Canada [32]
Anchorage Film Festival – Alaska [33]
Rio de Janeiro International Film Festival [34]
Rhode Island International Film Festival [35]
Kansas International film Festival [36]
Australian International Film Festival [37]
Hot Springs International Film Festival [38]
Istanbul International Documentary Film Festival [39]

Coverage

Australian National Press

ABC 'At The Movies': http://www.abc.net.au/atthemovies/txt/s1629939.htm
60 Minutes – Inside Baghdad: http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/sixtyminutes/stories/2003_04_06/story_797.asp
Enhance TV: http://www.enhancetv.com.au/features/media/politicsfilms/0505film.htm
Inside Film Magazine February 2006 - COVER-STORY *The Big Issue - Ghita Loebenstein 4.5 Stars May-June 2006

Movie Review

Victorian Press

Variety Magazine by Richard Kuipers
Channel NewsAsia by Joanne Leow
The AGE
- Larry Schwartz Story and Review, September 30 2004
- Tom Ryan Review, May 2 2006
- Phillippa Hawker Review, May 4 2006: (Not Available Online)

South Australian Press

Sunday Mail July 30, 2006 -Movie Review - Kirsten Heysen (Not available online)
The Advertiser - Movie Review - Stan James Stars 3.5 JULY 29 2006 (Not available online)

Queensland Press

The Courier-Mail April 28 2006 - Des Partridge (Not Available Online)
LifeSource – QCA - Documentary sheds light on the real Iraq by Helen Kassila

Spanish Press

Allied projects

Two projects are being run as a result of the war and related to the film:

"Liberty" -- a Residence Solution for a Family that appears in the Film and are now Stateless as a result of the War. Ipso-facto productions has been communicating with the Red Cross and the UNHCR.
"Amer" -- financially supporting the Rehabilitation of the hearing impaired 5 year old Amer. Ipso-facto productions sponsors the costs of rehabilitation for Amer in France and Amman.