The Palestine Film Institute (PFI) is back at the Marché with a dedicated showcase of four documentaries presented at Cannes Docs.
“Our art and culture – and in particular, our cinema – have always played a fundamental role in protecting our narrative and reflecting our struggles as Palestinians over the past 77 years to merely exist.” said PFI Co-Founder, Legal Board and Programming Consultant Mohanad Yaqubi.
“With aggression continuing to intensify and escalate, it is now more important than ever for the world to discover the profound importance of Palestinian storytelling that warrants saving.” said Rasha Salti, PFI General Assembly Member.
The Cannes Docs presentation comprises:
- ASPHALT (Dir. Hamza Hamideh): A 20-year-old Palestinian refugee in Jordan must postpone his wedding as family members in Gaza are killed one after another, embodying a generation’s experience of exile and distant suffering. Producer: Mahmoud Massad. Country: Jordan. Runtime: 90 mins. Stage of Production : Post Production. Total budget in place : 65% of the $110,000 total budget. Looking for: Gap financing, buyers, sales
- My Rebel Heart (Dir. Ida Kat Balslev): A Palestinian actress with Israeli citizenship navigates two worlds, torn between artistic ambition and harsh reality, in this intimate glimpse into a generation fighting to exist freely, creatively and truthfully under occupation. Producer: Sidsel Lønvig Siersted (Siersted Film, Denmark). Countries: Denmark, Palestine. Runtime: 80-90 mins. Stage of Production: Pre-production. Total budget in place: 27.7%. Looking for: Festival distribution, sales agent, distributors, buyers, co-producers, production funds, strategic partners, consultants.
- SAMA (Dir. Rabab Khamis): In Gaza, 10-year-old Sama collects plastic and cardboard to sell as fuel, silently enduring hardships beyond her years in a childhood stolen by circumstances beyond her control. Produced by: Rashid Masharawi | Masharawi Fund for Films and Filmmakers in Gaza. Country of production: Palestine, France. Runtime: 60 mins. Expected release: September 2025. Production stage: Post-production. Budget: €124,020 (59.14% in place). Looking for: Festivals, sales agents, distributors, buyers, co-producers
- Wolf Game (Dir. Patricia El): Young Israeli shepherds displace Palestinians to claim biblical West Bank lands, while on the other side of the world young engineers build virtual crypto-powered farming empires. These seemingly distant worlds reveal deeply unexpected connections. Producer: Patricia El (The Office for Public Therapy Politics, USA & Spain). Run time: 90 mins. Stage of Production: Pre-production. Total budget in place: 28%. Looking for: co-producers, gap financing, strategic guidance, festivals
“Each film emerged against odds that would silence most voices to receive dedicated mentorship and support from the Institute to reach Cannes – where their stories can finally be discovered by the world,” write organisers.
On its website the Palestinian Film Institute writes: “The months since October 2023 have underlined the great struggle we face as Palestinians to merely exist. Our arts and culture – and in particular, our cinema – have long played a fundamental role in protecting our narrative and reflecting the Palestinian struggle over the past 77 years. Against the backdrop of the current genocide, it has never been more urgent for Palestinian filmmaking to be platformed as a space of creative resistance, exchange and dialogue.
“The PFI’s work in supporting and promoting Palestinian narratives stems from the belief that we can rebuild the cultural infrastructure that has been destroyed; this is our commitment to a better future for the next generation. Our work to enable the participation of Palestinian filmmakers on their own terms in international forums is a vital part of this work.”
