The Palestinian Ministry of Culture has selected Palestine 36, the new film by director Annemarie Jacir, to represent the country in the Best International Feature Film category at the 98th Academy Awards. The film will have its world premiere on September 5, 2025, at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival. Already a major project, it stands out both for its historic subject and its impressive cast.
In Palestine 36, Annemarie Jacir delves into a pivotal period of Palestinian history—1936, under British mandate. The story follows Yusuf, a young man torn between his native village and the vibrant energy of Jerusalem. As the revolt against the British occupier intensifies and the massive influx of Jewish refugees fleeing fascist Europe disrupts the social balance, collective destiny approaches an inevitable breaking point. The film explores the collision between Palestinian aspirations for independence and the calculations of the British Empire, tracing the origins of a conflict with global repercussions.
To bring this historical epic to life, Jacir assembled an exceptional cast, combining key figures of Palestinian and international cinema. Among them are Hiam Abbass, Kamel El Basha, Saleh Bakri, Yasmine Al-Massri, as well as British actors Jeremy Irons, Liam Cunningham, and Robert Aramayo. The next generation is represented by Yafa Bakri and Karim Daoud Anaya. Syrian actor Jalal Altawil and British actor Billy Howle also appear in the film.
One name that particularly draws attention is Tunisian Dhafer L’Abidine. Over the past years, he has become one of the most recognized Arab actors internationally. A former professional footballer turned actor and model, he has built an impressive career spanning Tunisian productions, successful Arab series, and major international projects. His talent and charisma have allowed him to cross borders, making him a leading figure in Arab cinema and television. His involvement in Palestine 36 not only underscores his artistic influence but also reflects his desire to join a cinematic project with memory and significance. For Arab audiences, particularly in the Maghreb, his participation adds resonance and strengthens the film’s symbolic impact.
The collaborative nature of the project extends to its production team. Alongside Jacir, producers Ossama Bawardi and Azzam Fakhrilin are joined by Cat Villiers, Hani Farsi, Nils Åstrand, Olivier Barbier, Katrin Pors, Hamza Ali, and Elissa Pierre. The cinematography is by Hélène Louvart, with a score composed by Ben Frost.
In a global context marked by ongoing tragedies in Palestine, the director emphasized the challenge of bringing this story to the screen:
“The story follows a group of people who find themselves in a situation they did not choose, with something far greater than themselves weighing on their lives. Making Palestine 36 was the most difficult experience of my life. I could never have imagined that this year, marked by blood, violence, and death, would also be the year in which I would build a work born of so many hands and hearts, with so much love and resistance.”
With this new feature, Jacir continues an exceptional career. A director, screenwriter, and producer, she has over sixteen films to her credit, including three features previously submitted by Palestine to the Oscars. She was the first Palestinian woman to direct a feature film with Salt of This Sea, presented at Cannes and winner of the FIPRESCI Prize. Her subsequent films, When I Saw You (Best Asian Film at the Berlinale) and Wajib (36 awards worldwide), further established her prominence in the international film landscape.
Committed to the development of independent Palestinian and Arab cinema, Jacir founded Philistine Films to support emerging talent. Based in Palestine, she also created Dar Jacir, an independent cultural space in Bethlehem, and regularly serves on juries at major festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, and Sundance. She is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy. Her work has been celebrated through retrospectives in New York and Toronto.
The announcement of Palestine 36 as Palestine’s official Oscar entry reflects a dual significance: a cinema that carries collective memory and a filmmaker whose work has become a global reference. With such a cast and team, and the notable participation of Dhafer L’Abidine, the film promises to be one of the season’s essential events. The question remains whether this story, deeply rooted in Palestinian history yet resonant universally, will captivate the Academy and travel through the stages up to nomination—or even coronation.
Neïla Driss
