ARCHIVE (selected work)

خريطة (in development) (2026)
(documentary)
Bl0wn (2024)
(commissioned)
Pride and Prejudice (2023)
(commissioned)
Cashflow (2023)
(short)

Klang Moor Schopfe (2022)
(commissioned)
Es muss (It must) (2021)
(short)
Dried Out, We Had Forgotten Our Speech (2021) 
(short)
Sadaf H. Nava (2021)
(commissioned)
Haus Gawaling (2021)
(commissioned)
Unless (2021)
(cinematography)
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    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.


    NEW PROJECTS

    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)


    2022Beirut International Women Film Festival (Lebanon) – Winner Best Short for Es muss 
    (It must)


    2023Arctic Film Festival (Norway) – Winner Best Short for Es muss (It must)


    RESIDENCIES:


    2023
    Locarno Spring Academy (Mentor:
    Radu Jude)



    © Jumana Issa 2025Archive (2021-present)