1st International Women's Film Festival in Gaza to Showcase Tunisian Cinema
The 1st International Women's Film Festival in Gaza is set to take place from October 26 to 31, 2025, in Deir el-Balah, Gaza. The festival coincides with the Palestinian Women's National Day, which commemorates the first conference of Palestinian women held in Al-Qods in 1929.
A Celebration of Women's Resilience and Creativity
The festival will feature eight Tunisian films in its official selection, highlighting the country's rich cinematic heritage. Organized in partnership with the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and several Arab and international institutions, the event will showcase nearly 80 films from 28 countries, including Italy, France, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Sweden, Germany, Canada, and Iran.
A Tribute to Women's Voices and Memories
Founded by Ezzaldeen Shalh, a filmmaker and doctor of cinema, the festival aims to preserve the memory and voice of women in a context marked by war. Shalh, who lost his home and part of his family, currently lives in a tent. The festival's honorary president is filmmaker and researcher Monica Maurer, a prominent figure in the preservation of Palestinian visual memory.
Tunisian Cinema in the Spotlight
Tunisia is represented in the four competitive sections with seven films, including two feature films: "Pour Ilef" by Saber Baccouch, adapted from his own novel, and "Nadine," a documentary by Abdallah Yahia. The Tunisian selection also includes several short films, such as "Mima" by Dorra Sfar and "Les Clés de l'absence" by Amine Mejri, as well as three documentaries: "Des femmes sur scène" by Zeinab Ben Salah, "Épouvantails de la zone rouge" by Jaleleddine Faouzi, and "Ma mère" by Najoua Kaslim, a Tunisian-Swedish co-production.
Opening Film and Jury
The opening film, presented out of competition, will be "The Voice of Hind Rajab" by Kaouther Ben Hania, a poignant drama that tells the true story of Hind Rajab, a six-year-old Palestinian girl trapped in a car under bombardment in Gaza. The film's projection in Gaza will mark its first screening in the Arab world. The jury for the fiction films is chaired by French director Céline Sciamma, alongside Moroccan filmmaker Mohamed El Younsi, Italian actress Jasmine Trinca, Palestinian filmmaker Fajr Yacoub, and Algerian filmmaker Moni Boualam.
Documentaries and International Solidarity
The documentary section will be chaired by Palestinian filmmaker Anne Marie Jacir, with the participation of Bahraini producer Bassim Al Thawadi, Italian filmmaker Graziella Bildesheim, Kuwaiti filmmaker Abdulaziz Al-Sayegh, and Cuban editor Maricet Sancristobal. The festival's official website recalls the tragic context in which it takes place: "Palestine is going through the most difficult period in its history, amidst a genocidal war in the Gaza Strip. Entire families have disappeared, women and children are being targeted, and each victim has their own story." Created to highlight women's stories, this unprecedented festival is the result of a broad network of international solidarity, first announced at the Venice Film Festival.
