(documentary)
(commissioned)
(commissioned)
(short)
(commissioned)
(short)
(short)
(commissioned)
(commissioned)
(cinematography)
Jumana Issa is a Palestinian/Swiss Director & Cinematographer based in Zurich, Switzerland. In her work, she explores various forms of resistance, power dynamics or intergenerational traumas. In her practice, she embraces the idea of the archive as a liberating tool and utilises the oral history method.
Jumana studied Film at the Zurich University of the Arts (ZHdK) and completed her bachelor's degree in 2021 with a focus on screenwriting.
Her graduation film Es muss (It must) (co-directed by Flavio Luca Marano) won the ZHdK Förderpreis (sponsorship award) for the best graduation film of the year. Es muss (It must) celebrated its world premiere at the 74th Locarno Film Festival were they won the "Best Swiss Newcomer Award". Es muss (It must) was shown at other renowned festivals worldwide: including Clermont-Ferrand, Brussel, Dresden, Brest or at Show Me Shorts in New Zealand.
In 2022 Jumana Isabella Issa and Flavio Luca Marano founded their production company Sinn sieht sich Filmproduktion GmbH. She works there as a producer and director. She lives and works in Zurich, Switzerland.
Auf eigene Faust (42 min)
2025 (in development)
produced by Sinn sieht sich Filmproduktion
خريطة Documentary (70 min)
2026 (in development)
produced by Sinn sieht sich Filmproduktion
FILMOGRAPHY
2023 – Cashflow, Experimental, 3 min
2021 – Es muss (It must), Fiction, 18.5 min
2021 – Dried Out, We Had Forgotten
Our Speech, Fiction, 8 min
2018 – Martha, Fiction, 10 min
AWARDS:
2021 – Locarno Film Festival (Switzerland),
Best Swiss Newcomer Award
Pardi di domani - Concorso nazionale (Winner)
for Es muss (It must)
2022 – Beirut International Women Film Festival (Lebanon) – Winner Best Short for Es muss
(It must)
2023 – Arctic Film Festival (Norway) – Winner Best Short for Es muss (It must)
RESIDENCIES:
2023 – Locarno Spring Academy (Mentor:
Radu Jude)