Filmmaker Eva Lanska has directed and produced her first documentary titled, The Abraham Accords
Change History: Women in the Middle East. This film was Co-Produced with Yves Friedman and Oren Rosenfeld. Film features commentary from leading representatives of the region, including Chief Rabbi Dr. Elie Abadie, Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein, Fleur Hassan-
Nahoum, Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem for Foreign Relations Economic Development, Diplomat Ruth Wasserman Lande, and others. “The media in the West report that women in the Middle East do not have rights or opportunities. I wanted to find out if this information is accurate,” comments Lanska. “My film could be of great support to these women as it seeks to dispel stereotypes and myths, replacing them with facts and reality.”
Signed in 2020, The Abraham Accords
declare the importance and supremacy of human dignity, freedom and religious freedom. The agreement between the United Arab Emirates, Israel and Bahrain has changed the course of history. The Abraham Accords call for tolerance and respect for every person, making the world a place where all people can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, regardless of race, faith, ethnicity, or gender. The new film captures the importance of women’s contributions to creating a prosperous life in these regions. Women’s involvement in business and culture in the Middle East is unfairly depicted in the eyes of Western countries. Thus, the film draws attention to the achievements made by women, who count for half of the indigenous population in the United Arab Emirates, and their interaction with women’s professional associations in Israel.
“In Europe, the support of women in the professional environment does not work. Female equality in the workplace is just a beautiful concept. As before, all the best positions in many professional areas are given to men,” explains Lanska. “Today, there are quotas for women in the Emirates, which judging by the news reports, really works, so I decided to conduct my own research on this topic.”
The film includes conversations with outstanding representatives of cultural, religious and business organizations in the Middle East. Narrators of this compelling documentary include Senior Rabbi, Jewish Council of the Emirates, Chief Rabbi, Association of Gulf Jewish Communities Dr. Elie Abadie; Dr. Eng. Suaad Alshamsi, senior manager and technical advisor for one of the biggest aviation projects in UAE; Michigan Supreme Court Justice Richard Bernstein; Dr. Jennifer Camulli; Fleur Hassan-Nahoum,
Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem for Foreign Relations Economic Development and Tourism at Municipality of Jerusalem; Emirati artist Mohammed Kazem; H.E. Ahmed Obaid Al Mansoori, Founder of the Strategists Center, Al Mansoori Consultancy and Crossroads of Civilizations Museums; Eitan Na’eh, Israel’s first Ambassador to UAE; Emirati businesswoman Sara Al Nuaimi; Humanitarian Rania Abu Shabaan; and Israeli Diplomat Ruth Wasserman Lande. “Women are natural bridge builders and peace makers. The Abraham Accords are the most significant peace building initiative that has happened for decades in our region and it’s through the leadership of women as mothers and professionals and our ability to create the deep bonds of sisterhood, that will ensure that this peace is a warm and sustainable one,” comments Mrs. Hassan-Nahoum.
The film’s narrators express their thoughts about the horizons that The Abraham Accords have opened to the participating countries and the effects they have had on the women of the Middle East.
The 25-minute short, was shot in Israel and United Arab Emirates in April, will be submitted to festivals worldwide late this year.
“My very first film, Okay Mum, was honored with the Best Director Award at the Women Film Fair Middle East Festival. This recognition provided me with great moral support,” says Lanska. “I am grateful to the jury for recognizing my work, and I feel that it’s my duty as a female director to explore this topic in support of all women.”
Eva Lanska is a London-based, Israeli-Russian director and screenwriter. After graduating from the London Film Academy, Eva has focused on producing both documentary and fiction films. She has directed several award-winning films recognized throughout Europe and America.
Her previous film, ‘Little French Fish,’ starring British actors Jonas Khan and Devora Wilde, draws attention to the global stigma against interracial marriages through the relationship of an Orthodox Jewish woman and a Muslim man. In 2020, ‘Little French Fish’ was selected by one of the world’s oldest and largest Jewish festivals, the Washington Jewish Film Festival, and most recently, Lanksa was awarded the Best Director Award for the film at the Dubai Independent Film Festival. Her previous picture ‘Okay, Mum’, won Best Picture at the Los Angeles Film Festival and was selected for the Short Film Corner at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. She recently announced her first feature I Am Not An Actress, inspired by the philosophy of Brigitte Bardot.
Eva is actively involved in the work of various charities such as Women for Women, United Hatzalah and is a member of the board of the Meir Panim charity group.
