Noam Shuster Eliassi grew up the literal poster child for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process before making a hard pivot to stand-up comedy and political satire. But as the region sinks deeper into devastating violence, she must meet the moment by challenging people with hard truths that are no laughing matter.
SYNOPSIS
COEXISTENCE, MY ASS! follows activist-comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi as she creates a comedy show by the same name. Shot over five tumultuous years, the film traces Noam’s personal, professional and political journey in tandem with the region’s steady deterioration. Raised in a bilingual Israeli-Palestinian village — the only intentionally integrated community in the country — Noam grows disillusioned with traditional peace activism. She pivots to stand-up and quickly attracts attention across the Middle East. But as her star rises, everything around her falls apart. With biting satire, Noam pushes her audiences to face difficult truths that aren't always funny but do remind us that another reality is possible.
Director Statement
COEXISTENCE, MY ASS! follows activist-comedian Noam Shuster Eliassi as she creates a comedy show by the same name. Shot over five tumultuous years, the film traces Noam’s personal, professional and political journey in tandem with the region’s steady deterioration. Raised in a bilingual Israeli-Palestinian village — the only intentionally integrated community in the country — Noam grows disillusioned with traditional peace activism. She pivots to stand-up and quickly attracts attention across the Middle East. But as her star rises, everything around her falls apart. With biting satire, Noam pushes her audiences to face difficult truths that aren't always funny but do remind us that another reality is possible. Director's statement: I didn’t set out to be a filmmaker. I completed an MBA and was on my way to a career in marketing when 9/11 happened and my life took a different turn. While I was making my documentary SPEED SISTERS, I lived in the West Bank for 7 years. I was mainly immersed in Palestinian life under occupation, but I also met a few Israelis who were fighting to end the occupation. Some I met at weekly protests in the West Bank, others at parties in West Jerusalem. Noam Shuster was different. I met Noam at a bar in Ramallah hanging out with her Palestinian friends and speaking way better Arabic than I do. Noam has unique qualities that I have seen in very few people. She has the ability to move seamlessly between groups that appear to be mutually
Supporter Statement
Sundance Special Jury Prize for Freedom of Expression. Jury citation: For showing us how to have a challenging conversation with humor and humanity and for having the courage to say things others cannot, the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Freedom of Expression goes to Coexistence, My Ass!
Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival - The Golden Alexander Award for Best Documentary:
Reasoning: This is a powerful documentary about one of the most divisive, painful and enduring conflicts in the world today, the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. Its main protagonist is the Jewish comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi, who is equally fluent in Arabic and Hebrew. Her upbringing in the only community in modern Israel where Palestinians and Jews have lived together as neighbors and friends since 1970, “Oasis of Peace”, gives her a unique perspective on genuine co-existence in a society where peace and mutual understanding feels like a pipe dream. With a compellingly constructed narrative and a fearless challenge to every taboo in the region, Noam’s disarming voice and humor invite the audience to a deeper understanding as we laugh and cry with her, and reconsider our biases with open minds and hearts.
“It is just and exactly what I believe needs to be done — to open up the cracks as much as possible, and do it with compassion, honesty and creativity.” "My face is a mess of tears, such deep relief for having this story told and hearing Noam's demands and seeing her intellect and bravery shared this way."
“Thank you so much for sharing this content. I can’t tell you how beneficial it is. As a Palestinian American whose family was forced from their Jerusalem home… and helped lead the Builders of Peace initiative… it is so critical that we remove the veil from people’s eyes so they understand our plight and see why this conflict is not a “clash.” “I can hardly wait [for the long version].
ABOUT FILMMAKER(S)
Director, Producer, Cinematographer Amber Fares
Amber Fares is an award-winning documentary filmmaker best known for her directorial debut SPEED SISTERS (Hot Docs, 2015), which aired internationally on Netflix, Al Jazeera and RAI. Her directing credits include WE ARE AYENDA (Amazon, 2023), GUTSY ep5 (Apple TV, 2022), RECKONING WITH LAUGHTER (Al Jazeera’s “Witness,” 2021), CONVERGENCE: COURAGE UNDER CRISIS (Netflix, 2021). Amber also served as cinematographer and co-producer of the Peabody Award-winning THE JUDGE (PBS, 2017), was the cinematographer on LIFE AFTER (Sundance 2025) and both produced and shot the short film THE DEVIL IS BUSY (HBO 2025). A Sundance Momentum Fellow and Pillars Artist Fellow, Amber is Canadian and currently based in New York.
Producer/Writer Rachel Leah Jones
Rachel Leah Jones is an award-winning nonfiction filmmaker whose critically acclaimed work has centered on Israel/Palestine and the interrelated struggles for social and political justice. She is best known for her films ADVOCATE (Sundance, 2019), which won an Emmy for Best Documentary and was shortlisted for the Oscars; GYPSY DAVY (Sundance, 2012); ASHKENAZ (San Francisco Jewish FF, San Franciso Arab FF 2007); and 500 DUNAM ON THE MOON (Human Rights Watch, 2002). Based between Marseille and Tel-Aviv—Jaffa, Rachel is both American and Israeli and speaks English, Hebrew, Arabic, and French.
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