On Sunday, 17th of December at 9pm BBC Two will be broadcasting an unique observational arts and documentary film directed by Danny Boyle. This hour-long film follows Boyle on his travels to Bethlehem to capture a festive performance of the nativity, directed in collaboration between the Oscar-winning director and the local theater director, performance artist, actress and teacher at Bethlehem University, Riham Isaac.

As we previously reported, the elusive Banksy announced the event through his Walled Off Hotel at the end of November, and added extra attention to it by creating 2 new works in the holy city on the eve of the premier. The idea was to bring festive cheer to what Banksy calls “the least Christmassy place on earth”, by staging an Alternativity in the carpark of the hotel, showing the familiar story of Nativity in today's context of occupation and segregation.

Co-director, Riham Isaac, gathered different creative artistic groups such as rappers, choir or puppeteers, in effort to showcase the work that Palestinian artists can produce. "The idea of this whole project came in an email from Banksy to Danny Boyle. I got involved in it as Danny wanted to approach directors in Palestine to co-direct the show with him." says Isaac about her involvement and continues "we had a very sincere relationship built on respect and mutual understanding. I never thought of him as an Oscar winning director and instead I thought of how much we can both evolve the script that we developed together. I also got a lot of encouragement from him cause Danny was always enthusiastic about my ideas and the way I lead the process into the results that the public experienced."

Airing in the peek of holiday season, this movie is another effort by the infamous artist to raise attention to the ongoing injustice that is taking place in the region that is considered holy by many religious people worldwide and celebrated at this time of the year. —Sasha Bogojev