Chekpoint

Checkpoint / نقطة تفتيش (Nuqtat Taftish)
Jana Kattan (Arts University Bournemouth)
2021, UK, 5’50min

Set in the occupied territory of modern-day Palestine known as the West Bank, Checkpoint follows 11 year old Leila, who wakes up before dawn every morning to try to get to school on time. Her obstacle is the military occupation of her environment – specifically, the notorious checkpoint she must cross every day to get to her school. Despite Leila’s best efforts to prepare, she cannot control the seemingly endless queue, or the strong possibility she will be randomly denied access to the other side.

Language: Arabic, Hebrew
Recommended for children under 14 years old: Yes
Technique: 2D hand-drawn digital

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=tBBY6EQe4gk

Team:

Directed by Jana Kattan

Animation: Clara Cornish, Jana Kattan, Zeina Abu-Zayed, Miles Jezuita, Jesse Rist, Declan Crutchfield, Henry McLaughlin

Assistant Animators: Michelle Van Houten, Susana Van Konijnenburg, Arthur Dantes Porto Lara

Clean Up and Color: Morgan Emily Harris, Declan Crutchfield, Michelle Van Houten, Evangelos Mayson

Layout Concept Artists: Jesse Rist, Declan Crutchfield, Morgan Emily Harris

Colour Scripts: Henry McLaughlin

Layout Artists: Jesse Rist, Declan Crutchfield, Morgan Emily Harris

Assistant Layout Artists: Anna Lokotova, Evangelos Mayson, Jamie Morrison, Misia Paczek

Compositing & Editing: Jesse Rist

Sound Design: Jesse Rist, Ibrahim Zaher, Jana Kattan

Music: Haytham Safia

Character Designer: Jana Kattan, Zeina Abu-Zayed

Storyboard Artists: Clara Cornish, Jana Kattan, Henry McLaughlin

Produced by Jesse Rist

Stills:

About Jana Kattan

Specializing in film direction, storytelling and character animation, Jana Kattan is a graduate from the BA Animation Production course at Arts University Bournemouth. She directed Checkpoint, a story that she followed through from initial concept and pitch to final screening at the British Film Institute. Checkpoint has been picked up for numerous awards and been selected to screen at prestigious festivals including London Independent Film Festival, Los Angeles Animation Festival, Cardiff Animation Festival, Brighton International Animation Festival, Toronto Animation Arts Festival International, Dumbo Film Festival (New York) and Lift Off Global Network 2021 (Pinewood studios and Hollywood).

In Jana’s words: “As a Palestinian, Checkpoint was a project that is extremely close to my heart, and managing and directing a group of 6 other team members was an invaluable experience, particularly during the pandemic.  Directing the film taught me about the production-pipeline, as well as how to inspire others to become invested in the story we were telling, and why it was so important to tell. I am a firm believer in animation and film as a powerful medium for conveying all types of stories, whether they be comedic, informative or emotional. I hope to continue to use film and animation to tell stores that shine a light on under-represented groups and individuals.”

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