Palestinian cinema is drawing unprecedented international attention as filmmakers respond to the ongoing war in Gaza, with major festivals and awards platforms embracing their work for its artistic power and historical urgency.
The momentum was underscored earlier this year at the Academy Awards, where ‘No Other Land’, a Palestinian Israeli collaboration examining displacement in the West Bank, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature. Since then, films rooted in Palestinian experiences have dominated conversations across global film festivals, signalling a rare moment of visibility for a cinema culture that operates without a formal national industry.
One of the earliest and most striking responses was ‘From Ground Zero’, which premiered at the Amman International Film Festival last year. Initiated by veteran filmmaker Rashid Masharawi, the project brought together 22 short films made by directors living in Gaza, capturing daily life amid devastation. The film later became Palestine’s official submission for the 2025 Academy Awards.
That momentum has continued into the current awards cycle. For the 2026 Oscars, three countries have submitted films directly engaging with the Gaza war. Palestine has put forward ‘Palestine 36’ by Annemarie Jacir, Jordan has selected ‘All That’s Left of You’ by Cherien Dabis, and Tunisia has chosen ‘The Voice of Hind Rajab’ by Kaouther Ben Hania. All three titles are considered strong contenders for the Best International Feature shortlist, due to be announced in December.
These films have been among the highlights at festivals across the Middle East and North Africa, including events in Jeddah, Marrakech and Cairo. Ben Hania’s The Voice of Hind Rajab, which reconstructs the killing of a five-year-old girl in Gaza using real emergency call recordings, won major honours at the Venice Film Festival and drew wide critical acclaim.
Cannes, Locarno and Toronto have also showcased Palestinian and Gaza-focused works this year, reflecting a broader surge in creative output. Directors and critics alike note that this is not a sudden trend, but the culmination of years of documentation and resistance through art.
As filmmakers continue to develop new projects shaped by the war, festival programmers say Palestinian cinema has entered one of its most vital and visible periods.
