8 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY OCTOBER 8-14, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com 831 Julie Drezner’s family dates back generations to Bethlehem, and was part of the estimated 700,000 to 750,000 Palestinians forced to leave their homes after the Nakba– Arabic for “catastrophe”—as the State of Israel was created in 1948. It is understandably an upsetting reality for Drezner’s family, but despite that, Drezner says she had never been active in Palestinian issues beyond reading about them. That is until May, when she attended a Bay Area screening of All That’s Left of You, a 2025 feature movie that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and was an official entry for Best International Feature Film for the 2026 Oscars. It was directed by Cherien Dabis, a Palestinian-American actress, director, producer and screenwriter. Actors Mark Ruffalo and Javier Bardem are co-executive producers. The screening was hosted by Berkeleybased Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA). It chronicles seven decades of a fictional Palestinian family that lived in the city of Jaffa, where they lived a prosperous existence tending a large orange farm, until the Nakba. They are forced to leave and the father is violently expelled from their ancestral home and placed in a prison camp. It explores how that expulsion and the family’s transformation into refugees impacted the generations over the years. “It’s a story of displacement, loss, family, love and resilience,” Drezner says. “In some parts it’s really sweet, but in some parts it’s really horrendous. But because it’s a family and you’re engaged in the family’s journey, it tells it in a way that’s very personal.” At the conclusion of the screening, everyone in the audience sat in silence, says Drezner. The entire experience resonated so deeply with Drezner that she immediately wanted to bring the film to Monterey County. Her sister, who is involved in Palestinian advocacy, put her in touch with someone at MECA, which had purchased the film rights. They gave her a copy right away. “I’ve never done anything like this. This is not me,” the Carmel Valley resident says of her newfound activist role. Now retired from a career in philanthropic organizations, she and her husband Rob Drezner founded the Drezner Family Scholarship Program to help local community college students pursue degrees at four-year universities. Not sure where to begin, Drezner reached out to her neighbor Tony Salameh, whose Palestinian family was originally from Jerusalem, later immigrating to Jordan. Salome, also new to organizing anything as ambitious as a community film screening, suggested they work with his friend Nashwan Hamza, president of the Arab American Club of Monterey. Originally from Iraq, Hamza has lived on the Monterey Peninsula for 65 years. The collaboration expanded from there. Hamza encouraged Drezner and Salameh to reach out beyond local networks typically interested in the Palestinian cause. He suggested contacting churches, schools and other organizations to build a diverse audience. They thought they’d be lucky enough to attract 75 people—as of 10 days before the event, they had over 150 registrations. It’s being hosted by the Arab American Club and Language Studies at Monterey Institute of International Studies, with Hamza moderating a panel discussion afterward. “The main goal is that we really bring people to have a wider understanding of the history of the Palestinian people and their struggle,” Drezner says. “It offers an opportunity to experience and learn and engage in conversation.” Hamza says they will have a list of resources for audience members who feel compelled to engage in action themselves after the Monterey screening. For those who are unable to attend, the film is streaming on Apple and Amazon Prime, but Drezner wants people to come to the screening. Seeing it in a group, she says, makes it a more powerful experience. All That’s Left of You screens at 2-5:30pm Saturday, Oct. 10. Irvine Auditorium, Monterey Institute of International Studies, 499 Pierce St., Monterey. Free to attend; donations to the Middle East Children’s Alliance suggested. bit.ly/PalestinianfilmMonterey. Lifting the Veil A film about Palestinian struggles galvanizes a Carmel Valley woman to take action. By Pam Marino “It’s a story of displacement, family and resilience.” TALES FROM THE AREA CODE DANIEL DREIFUSS Members of the group that is collaborating on the film screening, from left to right, include Rob Drezner, Julie Drezner, Tony Salameh and An McDowell. SERVICE BEFORE POLITICS—A RECORD SEASIDE CAN SEE. AFFORDABLE HOUSING & SENIORS • Board President, Hamilton Ellis Martin Plaza— 192 affordable housing units • Board Member, Villa Del Monte— 80 affordable housing units • Over 10 years supporting activities for Seaside older adults YOUTH & FAMILIES • Founder and Committee Chair— Seaside Stars • Founding member— Ladies First mentoring program • Seaside Rising Youth Leadership Academy • Christmas toy giveaways and holiday food distribution CIVIC ENGAGEMENT & DEMOCRACY • 8 years elected to the Democratic Central Committee • Board service with Monterey County Democratic Women • Over 20 years hosting voter registration drives • Census Committees service COMMUNITY, JUSTICE & VETERANS • Former NAACP Vice President • Founding member, Monterey County Black Caucus • Veteran’s Transition Center Stand Downs— 4 years • Reentry assistance for individuals returning from incarceration • 10 years with the Blue Ribbon Task Force • Service through The Links, Incorporated, including past vice-president leadership I would be honored to have your vote NOVEMBER 3, 2026
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