It's hard to imagine anybody living a normal life in the Gaza Strip.

Frequently labeled as the world's largest open-air prison, it makes an appearance on news reports every time a confrontation erupts between Israel and Hamas. From TV sets thousands of miles away, this tiny piece of land has been reduced to an image of violence, chaos and destruction. So what do the people do when they’re not under siege? The Gaza which is seldom seen is ordinary, everyday Gaza, a costal strip which measures just twenty-five miles by six and which is home to an eclectic mix of almost two million people.

GAZA will introduce the audience to the surprising, the unexpected, the unfamiliar stories that portray its true face. It will take an atypical approach to finding out what makes this remarkable place tick, explore the other-story and find the extraordinary in the ordinary. GAZA depicts a people plagued by conflict but not defined by it and as we journey through the physically broken and battered landscape, we let our cast of characters speak for themselves. Through them we gain a nuanced understanding of what life is really like for its citizens and by extension, grow and foster a rare familiarity and affinity with this truly unique place, as we build towards a tender portrait of a beleaguered humanity.

Garry Keane

Studied film at the London College of Communication and at the Irish National Film School. Garry has directed over 100 hours of TV documentaries for European and American broadcasters in over 20 countries worldwide. In 2011 he set up Real Films and since then has won Irish Film & Television awards (IFTA’s) for Best Director and Best Sound for, ‘The Writing in the Sky’, Best Director for ‘Deafening’ and Best Cinematography for, ‘The Irish New Yorkers’. He has received 10 other IFTA nominations.

Andrew McConnell

He is an award-winning photographer who has been covering world events for over 15 years. His work often focuses on themes of conflict and displacement and has appeared many of the world’s top publications. Andrew has worked in-depth on issues such as the Syrian refugee crisis, conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the forgotten Sahrawi people of Western Sahara, for which he was awarded 1st place at the World Press Photo awards. GAZA is his first work as a filmmaker and follows on from his photographic projects in the besieged territory that began in 2010. Among numerous honours, Andrew has won two 1st place prizes at the World Press Photo Awards, 4 National Press Photographers Association awards, including the prestigious Best of Show, 1st place in the Pictures of the Year International, and 2 Sony World Photography Awards.