Palestine Cinema Days Szczecin

Join us on November 1 and 2 for the Szczecin edition of Palestine Cinema Days Poland at TRAFO Center for Contemporary Art.

We are using our channels to support the Palestine Cinema Days Festival, which was forcibly canceled due to the war in Gaza, and whose next edition was to take place in October 2023 in Palestine.

On November 2nd, the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, over 700 screenings of Palestinian films will take place around the world, including in Poland. This global endeavor is an expression of solidarity with Palestine and the Palestinian people in the face of the ongoing genocide – a gesture to amplify the censored voices of Palestinians.

“The Dupes”
dir. Tewfik Saleh (1972, Syria, 107’)
Polish premiere

Based on the novella “Men in the Sun” (orig. “Rijāl fī al-Shams”) by Palestinian writer Ghassan Kanafani. Three Palestinian refugees—Abu Qais, Assad, and Marwan—attempt to escape Lebanon’s refugee camps for Kuwait. Hiding in a water tanker under the desert sun, they suffocate when the smuggler fails to release them in time. The tragedy ends with a haunting question: “Why didn’t they knock on the walls of the tank?”

Festivals and awards: Cannes Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, New York Film Festival, Carthage Film Festival (Tanit d’Or Award), Singapore International Film Festival, ALFILM Festival

“Jenin, Jenin”
dir. Mohammad Bakri (2002, Palestine, 54’)

‘Where is God’, an elderly man desperately wonders when surveying the debris in the Palestinian refugee camp Jenin. Israeli troops barged into the camp in March 2002. After a grim battle that lasted for days, a large part of the camp had been razed to the ground and, besides a number of soldiers, many civilians had been killed. The film shows the extent to which the prolonged oppression and terror has affected the state of mind of the Palestinian inhabitants of Jenin. A little girl, who does not seem to be much older than twelve, tells her story but knows no fear. The sad question forces itself on the spectator—what will become of a country, its people when even the children are confronted with war and violence from a very early age?

Festivals and awards: IDFA International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, Bergen International Film Festival, Carthage International Film Festival (Best Film)

“Upshot”
dir. Maha Haj (2024, Palestine / Italy / France, 34’)
Polish premiere

Suleiman and Mona are a couple who lead a solitary life in which they care for animals and trees and have constant heated discussions about their children’s life choices. However, one day, their routine is disturbed when a stranger shows up, calling to mind a painful past.

Festivals and awards: Locarno Film Festival (Golden Pardino – Leopards of Tomorrow Award), Clermont-Ferrand International Short Film Festival (Audience Award in International Competition), El Gouna Film Festival (Golden Star Award)

“A State of Passion”
dir. Carol Mansour & Muna Khalidi (2024, Palestine / Jordan, 90’)
Polish premiere

British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah spent 43 days under Gaza’s bombardment, treating the wounded without rest. Facing horrific injuries, targeted hospitals, and orphaned children, his work became a symbol of resistance. This film explores his sixth and most harrowing Gaza war, his family’s fears, and the shared passion for Palestine that fuels his relentless humanitarian mission despite the danger.

Festivals and awards: Sheffield Doc/Fest, Cairo International Film Festival (Best Arab Film)

“When I saw you”
dir. Annemarie Jacir (2012, Palestine / Jordan / Greece / United Arab Emirates, 93’)
Polish premiere

In 1967 Jordan, 11-year-old Tarek and his mother, separated from his father during war, wait in a refugee camp for a return to Palestine. Restless and longing for reunion, Tarek discovers a group embodying freedom and hope. His journey with them transforms his life, capturing a moment when youthful idealism and political awakening ignite a path toward change.

Festivals and awards: Berlinale (NETPAC Award for Best Asian Film), Toronto International Film Festival, São Paulo International Film Festival, !f Istanbul International Independent Film Festival