OTLEY Film Society has teamed up with the Leeds Palestinian Film Festival to bring the important documentary, Firefighters Under Occupation, to Otley Courthouse.

In 2011 Fire Brigade Union member, Jim Malone was part of a FBU delegation that delivered fire fighting equipment to vastly under resourced firefighters in the West Bank. This new FBU-supported documentary made by South Wales firefighter and filmmaker, Ciaran Gibbons, follows Malone’s return trip to Palestine in 2015, and captures the moment he sees the donated fire appliance again. It gives a unique insight into the life of firefighters in the world’s longest running military occupation.

Alex Leggat, of Otley Film Society said: “We are delighted to have Jim Malone from Dundee to come and speak and answer questions after the film. Jim was one of the original 2011 Fire Brigade Union delegation that delivered fire fighting equipment to firefighters in the West Bank. “Fire Fighters Under Occupation” followed Malone’s return trip to Palestine in 2015, where he and his colleagues got to know some of the West Bank firefighters and saw for themselves how their Palestinian comrades work in the world’s longest running military occupation. Jim is the FBU’s Palestinian Support Coordinator and has travelled to Palestine regularly since 2011 in support of Palestinian firefighters. He has also facilitated training programmes in the UK since 2009 for Palestinian firefighters.”

The documentary will be screened on Thursday, November 15 November at 7.45 pm at Otley Courthouse. Stalls selling Palestinian goods and produce will be available before and after the screening. Tickets cost £5 on the night or from the Otley Courthouse box office.

*Otley Film Society and Otley Courthouse are giving their audiences two opportunities to see the recent film of R C Sherriff’s Great War play, Journey’s End.

The Courthouse screening is on Thursday, November 15 at 3 pm and the Film Society are screening the film the following Thursday, November 22 at 7.45 pm. Tickets at the door £5.