'To Gaza With Love: A Global Anijam' Premiering This September
Sometimes animators come together for a cause bigger than themselves. Working for charity or to bring awareness to a particular cause, they use their skills for selfless reasons. A group of over 50 artists have come together for an international Anijam in aid of one of the most pressing issues of today.
To Gaza With Love: A Global Anijam is a powerful global initiative coordinated by AC4Pal (Animation Community For Palestine) that will have its online premiere on September 21. The project brings together 329 short films from over 50 countries, created by animators, students and studios in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Founded by British animation legend and Oscar nominee Joanna Quinn and Canadian animator and lecturers Thérèse Simard and Sam Decoste, AC4Pal was established to support the work of Haneen Koraz, an animator based in Gaza who has been running animation workshops with displaced children and women across the region. Long before the current war, Koraz was using animation to help children express their experiences. As the violence escalated, she remained committed to her work in camps across Gaza, delivering 51 animation workshops that offered a vital creative lifeline. She has also trained a team of women to carry her work forward, and has to date reached over 1500 children and empowered more than 80 women and mothers.
Her work has inspired animators all over the world to respond- not just with words and admiration but with action. The Anijam invited the global animation community to submit short films of love, hope and solidarity with Gaza. The films have already been seen by millions online- and more importantly, been seen by the people of Gaza they were intended for.
“For me, the ‘To Gaza with Love’ films are a powerful act of solidarity" Haneen Koraz said. "They show that artists around the world care deeply about Gaza - about our children, our art, and our future. These films give us strength and remind us that we are not forgotten. The children feel this too. They told me, ‘These films are like gifts from the world to us. They make us feel seen, like people care, and that our love for art is shared by many others.’ Even in the midst of hardship, these stories spark hope. They remind us that through imagination and creativity, our voices can travel where we cannot.”
The project aims to show Palestinians, particularly Gazans, that they are not forgotten, and to give animators a platform for their support. It uses animation as a powerful tool for political expression, raises funds for Haneen's workshops and creates a global community of animators united in compassion and creativity.
"Discovering the work of Haneen and her courageous team of talented women animators has been life-changing for me" Jaonna Quinn added. "In a world overwhelmed by hate, fear, and violence, their strength of spirit and selflessness offer a profound sense of hope - not only to the children they work with, but to the thousands who watch their films around the globe."
"Animation is a beautiful way to show solidarity with the people of Gaza - a universal language that speaks beyond borders, cultures, and languages. Our Global Anijam is a unified collection of over 300 powerful messages of love and support for Haneen, her talented young animators, and the wider community of suffering Palestinians in Gaza."
Contributors include:
• Joanna Quinn (UK), whose own contribution to the Anijam is a deeply personal and emotive piece, reflecting her long-standing commitment to using animation as a force for empathy and justice.
• Sam Fell (UK), Oscar-nominated director (Aardman, Laika) created a heartfelt piece reflecting on empathy and connection.
• Raman Djafari (Germany), known for his work with Billie Eilish and Adult Swim, contributed a visually stunning message of solidarity.
• Jin (Sonnye Lim) (USA), a rising talent whose emotionally resonant film has gained wide traction online.
• Mohammed Hosam (Gaza), whose breathtaking animation, created entirely on his phone from a tent, has captivated audiences.
• Royal College of Art (UK) animation students, whose collaborative film has garnered over 4million views and heartfelt responses from Gaza.
As part of the Anijam launch, audiences will be invited to explore a beautifully designed interactive map, created by Bristol-based Australian animator Jane Abernethy. By clicking on icons on the map you can unlock and watch films from that part of the world. Four of the films actually came from inside Gaza, a testament to the resilience of artists working under unimaginable conditions.
You can watch the online premiere on Sunday, September 21 via the official YouTube Channel from 9 AM UK time/ 12 PM Gaza time.
To help support Haneen's work, you can make a donation via Patreon or GoFundMe.
