Reel Palestine Film Festival returns to Cinema Akil for its 9th edition from January 27th – February 5th, 2023, presented by Bayt, and in partnership with Wamda and Advanced Media, the festival returns with 18 films, 23 screenings, 7 Q&As, 36 vendors and 6 workshops.
“What we see on the screen, or in any picture representing the solidity of Palestinians in the interior, is only that, a utopian image making possible a connection between Palestinian individuals and Palestinian land.” - Edward Said on Michel Khliefi’s Fertile Memory (1981).
Year after year, now shy of a decade, Reel Palestine has returned persistently and passionately to bring the UAE audience films from Palestine to be witnessed, in community, on the big screen. With the first retrospective since its inception, the festival’s 9th edition pays tribute to one of the most iconic masters in Palestinian cinema history: Michel Khliefi. Three of the multi-award-winning director’s films will be screened for a rare opportunity to be witnessed on the big screen: Fertile Memory (1981), Wedding in Galilee (1987) and Tale of Three Jewels (1995).
Committing to Reel Palestine’s annual practice of presenting a program of the latest contemporary Palestinian cinema, the program presents narrative and fiction features and short films spanning genres, lengths and approaches. The seven-feature film program includes the UAE premiere of Maha Haj’s Cannes debut Mediterranean Fever, Jumana Manna’s Foragers and special screenings of Firas Khoury’s Alam and 12 short films bound by Remembrance and in contemplation of the Palestinian Quotidien.
The program jumps wall after wall… foraging from the everyday to the unfathomable, from the distant to the everpresent, encountering infinitely looping heartbreaks, doors swinging open, smells of coffee and jasmine, language defying pain, ululations, that insurmountable trepidation of youth, the indescribable joy to traverse the worlds of life itself…experienced, punctured through cinema. Fragmented and eternally whole.
Complementing the festival is the Reel Palestine Souk; returning in full force with Palestinian crafts, flavors and artisanship, a series of workshops in partnership with Kave and our limited edition merchandise collection designed by Haitham Haddad of Studio MNJNK and our 2023 heroine Jenin.
Check the full program here
Dates: 27 January - 5 February 2023
Image Credit: Cinema Akil
Age
8+
Telephone number
+971 56 995 1225
Links
Address
DubaiWarehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz Industrial Area, Dubai
How to get there?
TRAVEL BY CAR
From Sheikh Zayed Road, take the Al Manara exit (Exit 43) into Al Quoz. Go straight on Al Manara Street until you reach the traffic light facing Home Centre. At this junction, turn right. Continue straight then turn right onto 17th Street, before the Avenue. At the end of the road, turn left onto 6A Street for parking.
TRAVEL BY METRO
The closest metro station to Alserkal Avenue is Noor Bank station. From there, you will need to take a taxi to our location.