Visiting Filmmakers Series and Alumni Reunion Weekend: Mohammed Saffouri with Touchline

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Touchline Poster

Host: Roudah Chaker. Roudah is currently working at the law firm Cadwalader as a litigation paralegal, and previously worked on the legal team at Google. She holds both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Government and Political Science from Georgetown University.

This event is free and open to the public.

The film is open-captioned.

George Mason University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, and activities. Please make accommodation requests related to a disability by contacting film@gmu.edu at least one week prior to the event.

Thursday, September 18, 2025 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM EDT
Johnson Center, Cinema

Join us for a screening of the short film, "Touchline" and a conversation with filmmaker and George Mason alum Mohammed Saffouri.

The first event for Reunite! 2025 Alumni Reunion Weekend, our screening and discussion are presented by Visiting Filmmakers Series and George Mason University's Office of Alumni Relations.

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Set during the occupation of Palestine in 1948, "Touchline" tells the story of Ahmad (Basil Askar), a 17-year-old Palestinian boy who faces a war in his hometown that forces him to give up his dream of being a professional footballer. "Touchline" was the first Jordanian film to be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. It also won the award for Best Short Narrative Film at the Franco-Arab Film Festival.

Our event is free and open to the public.
Register on Mason 360. (Pre-registration is not required.)

Filmmaker headshot Mohammed Saffouri is an award-winning Palestinian-American filmmaker currently based in Washington, D.C. Saffouri made an early mark in his film career, earning a Capital Emmy for his debut documentary, “The First,” which chronicled the journey of the first Muslim woman to be elected in Virginia. His subsequent film, “Touchline,” made Saffouri the first George Mason University alumnus to have a film screened at Tribeca in the festival's history.

Saffouri earned his Bachelor of Arts in Film and Video Studies with a concentration in Film Directing from George Mason University in 2020. With 10 years of experience across various filmmaking roles, he has directed, written, and produced four films. He also served as an Assistant Director on the "Barlaman Sha'ab" competition/reality show, which achieved over 10 million views. Additionally, he has created 20 promotional videos for businesses, non-profits, and government entities. His work has garnered recognition in 17 film festivals to date, winning awards such as Best Short Documentary at the Virginia Film Festival, Best VA Short at the Loudoun Arts Film Festival, the Jury Award for Best Fiction Short at the Franco-Arab Film Festival, and the Jury Award for Best Short Documentary at the March on Washington Film Festival.

Saffouri is currently developing his first narrative feature film, “Intercessor,” as well as his first documentary feature film, “Marline?".

Interview: "Mohammed Saffouri’s Touchline; A Positive Experience of Storytelling," Indie Activity 2023

With support from College of Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Visual and Performing Arts; Film and Video Studies; CVPA's Office of Belonging and Inclusive Engagement+; English Department; History and Art History; Screen Cultures, University Life; Office of Alumni Relations; Center for the Arts, and Women and Gender Studies.

Touchline is currently streaming on Watermelon+.

#VisitingFilmmakersSeries #FAVS

For more information: contact film@gmu.edu

More Information

Touchline Poster

This event is free and open to the public.

The film is open-captioned.

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