Aisha

Aisha is running from The Woman In The Blue Hijab. What will happen if they reach the water's edge?

Winner, Tribeca Festival 2023 Independent Audio Fiction

Director's Statement: "I am a Jewish American. Every Passover I am unfortunately compelled to think about the genocide that the government of Israel is committing against the Palestinian people. My religious ancestors were forced to go through tough times and were oppressed because of who they were and what they believed. It breaks my heart that now, today, a government made up of people who identify as Jewish are somehow not learning from and embracing the lessons of Passover, but are instead, unfortunately, themselves oppressing and attacking and dehumanizing. Things seem to be accelerating and getting worse.

I can safely say as a proud Jew that what the Israeli government is doing goes against my moral and religious values.

I strongly believe that art and storytelling are profoundly powerful and important tools in the effort to start to bring understanding, empathy, and hopefully peace to Palestine and Israel."

Series Description: Aisha, a Palestinian girl in Gaza City, longs for freedom and safety - without having to give up her cultural and religious identity to the Israeli-American aid worker that wishes to "save" her. Deep below the surface, in a smuggling tunnel, a new Underground Railroad, she dreams of another path, another way.

This piece could either be standalone or the first in a series. If it were to be a series, it would follow Aisha and her family as they navigate the cultural genocide and human rights violations currently being inflicted on the Palestinian people. They are working on a smuggling tunnel both to get desperately needed basic supplies into Gaza, and to help some families and children leave Gaza - without having to give up their culture and faith. Told via a series of narrated dreams interspersed with non-narrated verite scenes, after the tunnel is collapsed by the IDF, who claim that the tunnel is being used by "terrorists", Aisha's family is trapped and she is forced out to the surface and into a mad dash for her life. Aisha's desire for freedom manifests itself in the literal ability to levitate. She uses her newfound powers to escape, and returns with a vision to help stop the ethnic cleansing and hopefully set Palestine on a course for eventual self-determination and peace.

Credits:
Creator / Director: Cory Choy
Sound Designers: Feyiṣayo Aluko, Cory Choy
Cast: Feyiṣayo Aluko
Associate Producers: Mark Blumberg, Emily Reeves, Harry Bainbridge
Art Director: Zach Shukan

This concept/show is ready for development and Silver is currently seeking creative partners. Contact us at [e-mail] if you'd like to get involved.

Silver Podcast Network
www.silver-nyc.com/silverpodcastnetwork