The short documentary “Creating Change”, which featured two students from the Department of English at Bethlehem University, has achieved another major milestone, securing the Best Human Rights Short Film award at the 2025 Love Peace and Freedom Film Festival in Chiapas, Mexico.
This recognition follows the film’s success at the Festival of Visual and Interactive Media in California in 2024, where it earned a Silver Award, as well as receiving honorable mentions from the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival and Tietê International Film Awards.
The film, which first garnered attention last year, continues to resonate with audiences around the world for its powerful portrayal of the lives and aspirations of two Palestinian content creators, Rand Fararjeh and Donia Dibi, both students from the Department of English at Bethlehem University. Directed by Palestinian filmmaker Dina Amin, Creating Change explores their efforts to challenge negative stereotypes and offer a more nuanced, accurate depiction of Palestinian identity in Western media.
Produced through a media literacy project supported by the U.S. State Department’s Office of Palestinian Affairs, the film was crafted during workshops held in Jerusalem and Ramallah in the summer of 2023. Professors Brian J. Bowe and Bidisha Biswas from Western Washington University, who collaborated on the project, brought their expertise to both the production and the curriculum for the workshops. The workshop was also incorporated as an extracurricular credential in the two courses “Advocacy” and “Media, Culture, and Society” taught by Mr. Ramzi Asali from Bethlehem University.
The film has earned widespread acclaim for its sensitive handling of complex issues facing Palestinian youth. Through the stories of Donia, who uses dark comedy as a way to cope with the challenges of living in the Shuafat Refugee Camp, and Rand, who is committed to reshaping the Palestinian narrative in the media, Creating Change has sparked critical conversations about the role of media in shaping public perceptions of marginalized communities.
This latest recognition further affirms the film’s impact and the importance of amplifying Palestinian voices in global media. As Creating Change continues to inspire audiences worldwide, it serves as a testament to the power of storytelling in challenging stereotypes and promoting greater understanding of Palestinian life and culture.