Our VALUES

 
 

  1. Our Palestinian-led festival is, foremost, a space to celebrate Palestinian expression and Palestinians’ diverse and complex identities. DCPFAF nurtures creativity and artistic expression from filmmakers, artists, and volunteers -- offering a collective platform for our community to create and imagine together.

  2. We stand in solidarity with the struggle for the liberation of all marginalized people and against imperialism, white supremacy, Zionism, and other forms of oppression. We recognize that by existing in our current society, we participate in systems of oppression, and we will be intentional in correcting and repairing harm. 

  3. Our festival is an inclusive space welcoming of all people, including those with identities marginalized based on: 

    • Race

    • Gender

    • Religion

    • Disability status

    • Sexuality

    • Economic status

    • Citizenship status

  4. We believe that reclaiming power for collective liberation begins with building community. We commit to bringing people and resources together to contribute to building a world where everyone is free to express themselves. 

  5. In the face of structures that actively and disproportionately harm Palestinians and other Black, indigenous, and brown people, we commit to 1) shifting power in our spaces towards those who are marginalized by systemic oppression, 2) approaching our work intersectionally, recognizing that all struggles against oppression are intertwined, so our liberation is bound with that of others, and 3) building our space with class consciousness, or the awareness that economic marginalization is a tool of oppression, particularly of Black, indigenous, and brown people, and serves as a barrier to equal access to social capital and resources.

  6. We treat one another with care and respect: interpersonally, in the terms of our agreements with artists, and in creating a safe, accessible, and welcoming space at our festival. 

  7. We value diverse perspectives and opinions in our community. However, when opinions or actions within our community perpetuates oppression, we commit to engaging in needed conversations to address and repair harm caused by hetero-patriarchy, racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and other forms of oppression. 

  8. We are an active part of the DC community.  We are intentional in engaging our community by partnering with local venues, organizations, businesses, and people throughout our festival, in the partnerships we select, and in the programs we contribute to. We provide affordable and accessible programming so that anyone in community with us can attend the festival.