Film Screening: Coexistence, My Ass!

Coexistence, My Ass!, an award-winning documentary film based on the provocative one-woman show of Israeli peace activist and comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi, will be screened at the Strand Theatre in Rockland on Sunday, January 18 at 2:00 p.m.

The film, co-presented by Points North and the Camden Conference, follows Shuster Eliassi as she challenges audiences with uncomfortable truths about coexistence, occupation, and the prospects for peace in the Middle East. Shot between 2019 and 2024, the documentary weaves together footage from Shuster Eliassi’s stand-up performances, personal video diaries, and news clips, capturing her evolution from UN diplomat to comedian and her shifting perspective as regional violence escalated. The film’s director, Lebanese-Canadian filmmaker Amber Fares, will join for a post-screening discussion and Shuster Eliassi will participate via Zoom.

Coexistence, My Ass! premiered at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression. The film has since earned numerous accolades including the Human Rights in Motion Award from the Council of Europe and the Golden Alexander Award for Best Documentary at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival. The film opened at New York’s IFC Center in October 2025 and has been featured at prestigious festivals including Full Frame and DOC NYC. For more about the film visit https://www.coexistencemyass.com/

This special presentation of Coexistence, My Ass! connects to the upcoming 39th Annual Camden Conference, Today’s Middle East: Power, Politics & Players, to be held February 20-22, 2026. The Camden Conference will be live in Camden, Maine, with satellite venues in Rockland and Falmouth, and available to livestream worldwide. The Camden Conference is Maine’s premier foreign affairs conference, providing a non-partisan community forum fostering in-depth discussion of world issues through year-round events, student education programs, and its annual February conference.

Co-sponsor Points North is the launching pad for the next generation of nonfiction storytellers. Points North programs include the annual Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) and Points North Forum, as well as a growing suite of artist development initiatives: retreats, residencies, workshops and fellowships that nurture the careers of diverse nonfiction storytellers and help them develop a stronger artistic voice. CIFF’s 22nd edition takes place September 17-20, 2026 at venues throughout Camden, Rockport, and Rockland, Maine.

● Tickets: $8 general admission/ $7 Strand Members – https://www.rocklandstrand.com/event/coexistence-my-ass/