Award-Winner of Cinema Verite Detained by Israeli Authorities

According to the Public Relation Department of Documentary, Experimental & Animation Film Center (DEFC), on Monday January 13th, Motan was arrested by the Israeli authorities as he attempted to travel to Dubai via Jordan. He has been given administrative detention, which involves imprisonment for a period of six months or more without trial or specific charges.

The 29-year-old filmmaker, Abdallah Motan, is from Ramallah and has worked on numerous documentary projects both in Palestine and internationally.

The documentary “Deferred Reclaim” by Motan was screened in international section of the 18th Iran International Documentary Film Festival, and was awarded the Special Jury Prize.
Due to the ongoing war conditions in Gaza, Motan was unable to be present at the closing ceremony of the festival. He conveyed his appreciation to the organizers through a message: “Thank you for honoring the stories of Palestinian martyrs, prisoners, and their families. I wish I could have been there to attend the ceremony in person.”

The IDFA Festival's website has reported on the imprisonment of Abdullah Motan.