Just Vision creates high quality films and multi-media tools to equip journalists, community leaders and educators with information, access and content so they can report on, learn from, support or join Palestinian and Israeli civilians working for peace without arms. The following are some of our recent accomplishments. 

• Just Vision produced an award-winning feature documentary, Encounter Point, that created a global platform for its subjects. Encounter Point premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, received numerous awards, including Best First Documentary, the Audience Award for Best Documentary and Best Musical Score, screened in Dubai, Jerusalem, Gaza, Haifa, Sderot, Tel Aviv, Jenin, New York and in more than 55 festivals and 200 cities around the world.
• Just Vision’s films have opened countless doors for their protagonists, bringing them to the attention of policymakers in Jordan, Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the United States, Canada, Spain and beyond.
• Thanks to Just Vision, Palestinian and Israeli civic peacebuilders and nonviolence leaders have been featured on CNN, Al Arabiya, Al Jazeera, Channel 10 (Israel), in the New York Times, NPR, TimeOut, the Christian Science Monitor and more. They have also received awards – from Search for Common Ground, and Synergos.
• Just Vision has brokered relationships among NGOs and activists, including bringing Palestinian journalist Nasser Laham and Palestinian Legislative Council member Jihad Abu Znaid to speak with the Encounter group of rabbincal students; introducing local peacebuilders Tzvika and Ayelet Shahak to Gadi Kenny, which resulted in the ongoing project Minds of Peace; an introduction between prominent Palestinian journalist Nayef Hashlamoun and the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict in Washington, DC which resulted in an ongoing partnership. We have served as a resource to funders, activists, press and more.
• Our media and outreach has led to the unlikeliest of meetings. A former militant from the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade in Jenin saw our film, Encounter Point, on Al Arabiya and was so moved by the message of nonviolence that he approached one of our film subjects to express support. A friendship ensued that received front-page magazine coverage in Yediot Ahronot, the most widely read daily newspaper in Israel. Excerpts of the film were also screened on Al Jazeera and on Israeli TV.
• Just Vision has generated media coverage about the issue of nonviolent civic peace builders in outlets ranging from National Public Radio and The Oprah Winfrey Show to the Jerusalem Post and the newspaper, Al Quds.
• Just Vision is raising awareness about the successful nonviolence campaign waged in the West Bank village of Budrus through the release of our new feature documentary film of the same name. Prior to our involvement, Budrus garnered very little print, digital and broadcast coverage in English. Since outreach began for the film, coverage of Budrus has increased exponentially on blogs and in news outlets ranging from Al Arabiya to the Nation.
• Just Vision is responsible for introducing peacebuilders to persons and organizations of influence including Bishop Desmond Tutu, members of the Canadian Parliament, the Spanish Parliament, the Jordanian Royal Family, the Israeli Education Ministry, the Alliance of Civilizations, the Skoll Forum on Entrepreneurship, the United Nations, the State Department, the German Foreign Ministry and members of the U.S. Congress.
• Just Vision brought together Arab, Muslim, Christian and Jewish organizations in North America that had never before cooperated to co-sponsor Encounter Point screenings.
• Just Vision catalyzed a discussion among Fatah movement leaders about strategic nonviolence and media coverage of nonviolent initiatives to end the Occupation, following a screening of Encounter Point.  
• Just Vision presented our resources to educators and community leaders in the U.S., Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Jordan, including the United States Institute of Peace, American Friends Service Committee, Al Tariq, the Israel-Palestine Center for Research and Information, the Institute for Democratic Education in America,  and the United Religions Initiative.
• Just Vision screened Encounter Point on university campuses and with community organizations in the U.S. in order to spark a new conversation that bridges, rather than exacerbates, Arab-Jewish divides.
• Just Vision received an endorsement for educational use of Encounter Point by the Israeli Ministry of Education and piloted a facilitation workshop and training with Minhal Hevrah V Noar (a division of the Ministry) reaching approximately 11,000 children.
•  We hosted US-based “Best Practices” facilitation trainings bringing together Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Arab leaders to address the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in North America and co-convened two strategic nonviolence workshops in Palestinian society for local community organizers in partnership with the International Center for Non-Violent Conflict.
• We screened Encounter Point to hundreds of Israeli youth leaders from the Bnei Hamoshavim youth movement, followed by lively discussions about ways for teenagers to become involved in civic peace building.
• Just Vision has won awards and industry acclaim for both of our feature documentary films. Budrus recently won the Berlinale's Panorama Audience Award Second Prize and premiered as a red carpet gala screening at the Dubai International Film Festival followed by a keynote speech by Her Majesty Queen Noor.

"[Budrus] gives an enormous amount of hope... It's a story which will have an impact and can help bring [about] change.” -Her Majesty Queen Noor

"A poignant film [in reference to Encounter Point]." -Christiane Amanpour, CNN

 "I believe that's how we're going to do it – when we have people who are of peaceful minds coming together. I believe it is going to happen with women around the world. Thank you Ronit and Joline." -Oprah Winfrey, The Oprah Winfrey Show

"I believe so much in the message of [Encounter Point]." -Khairy Beshara, Egyptian filmmaker

"Encounter Point is the bravest, most brilliant documentary film I have seen in many years." -Sami Michael, Israeli writer

"Never before has the activist community found such a powerful call." -Michael Wallach, Seeds of Peace Board Member

“By connecting the widest spectrum of Israeli and Palestinian peacemakers with untapped bases of international support via the Internet and in person, Just Vision is transforming isolated pockets of advocacy into a synergetic network, a virtuous circle that straddles the fault lines of what is perhaps the world’s most polarizing debate." -Dr. Mohammed Abu Nimer and Ned Lazarus, American University

"Encounter Point is a must-see documentary that embraces peace... This compassionate, brilliant film goes beyond today's headlines... revealing what viewers seldom see--the humanity of Israelis and Palestinians." -Jack G. Shaheen, Author, Reel Bad Arabs

"[Encounter Point] tells an important and very hopeful story that should be seen by all who care about Israelis and Palestinians and the possibilities for peace." -Professor Mark Tessler, University of Michigan

"[Encounter Point] is not only thought-provoking and a great conversation starter - but it is incredibly touching and moved me to tears several times." -Yasmin Hamidi, Network of Arab-American Professionals, New York

“No matter what your politics, this powerful work will make you think about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in profound and unsettling ways."
 -Rabbi David W. Nelson, Association of Reform Zionists of America

Please see also:    Budrus FAQ     |     Encounter Point FAQ

Where is Just Vision based? 

Our headquarters are in DC, we have an office in Jerusalem, and an editing studio in New York. All print correspondences can be sent to: Just Vision, 1616 P St. NW Suite 340 Washington, DC 20036

How is Just Vision funded?

Just Vision receives funding from more than 300 individuals and family foundations, primarily but not exclusively from across North America, and from private and public foundations. We also receive in-kind donations, including legal, printing, sound mixing and research services. Finally, we receive licensing fees for film broadcasts, DVD sales and screening fees. Our donor base reflects a broad constituency rather than a single ethnic or religious group. We continue to reach out to secular, Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities. We retain full editorial control of our content, and do not accept any funding that would require us to cede editorial control of our documentary film or educational materials.

In October 2009 we also received funds from USAID to support the relaunch of our website, the creation of video portraits and short films (upcoming) and media and community outreach in the Middle East that does not relate to our feature documentary film, Budrus. Given the urgency of the issue and its global relevance, as well as our steady growth over the last five years, we are confident that we will continue to garner ongoing and new sources of support.

Tax-deductible donations are accepted online at www.justvision.org or by check, payable to: Just Vision Inc., a registered 501(C)(3) organization. Checks can be sent to; Just Vision, 1616 P St. NW Suite 340, Washington, DC 20036. Click here for more information about making donations to Just Vision.

Does Just Vision take any political stand? 

Just Vision is non-partisan. We are not affiliated with any political or religious movement. We highlight the work of Israeli and Palestinian civilians who are working to build a base for peace in the Middle East through nonviolent means. We believe that ordinary people have a critical role to play in ending the occupation and conflict and that ultimately politicians will follow civil society's lead. 

What is the difference between Just Vision and other peace organizations?

Just Vision is not a peace organization. We connect local nonviolent peace workers to audiences in the Middle East and North America. We do this by creating documentary films about their work, and in-depth educational materials highlighting Palestinian and Israeli individuals from a wide array of backgrounds, ages, genders, religious affiliations and more, who are working to end the occupation and build peace in the region through nonviolent means.

How do you select your interviewees?

Just Vision has four criteria for selecting the interviewees to be profiled in Visionaries. Each interviewee is: A civilian, Locally-based (in Israel/Palestine), Engaged in nonviolent activities, Crossing the “Green Line” in a cooperative way (i.e. Israelis and Palestinians working together), or else engaged in uni-national work (within one society) that Just Vision deems critical to highlight for its long-term contribution to the advancement of peace in the region. Our subjects reflect a broad range of political perspectives, geographical locations and religious affiliations. They do not all agree. We believe that it is critical to learn about the spectrum of opinions emanating from individuals in the region who are most committed to ending the conflict and ensuring the well-being of both societies.

Who created your website? 

Just Vision's former Education Director Nahanni Rous and the Just Vision staff worked with the Ottawa-based web design company, Open Concept, to build the site.  Jenn McIntyre and Shanthony Exum were our designers.  Photo credits go to Just Vision, Brian Petersen Photography, Aisha Mershani, Emily Smith and ActiveStills.org.