What began in the late 90s as a student-led series of screenings in a university classroom has since grown into one of the longest-running festivals of its kind. Now approaching its 30th year, the London Palestine Film Festival returns to the capital from November 13 to 27 for its most expansive programme yet, hosting 28 screenings across 11 cinemas. Across the fortnight, the organisers aim to not only share the lived experiences of Palestinians but also preserve the richness of culture, art, and history across the diaspora.
Founder Khaled Ziada emphasises his inclusive approach to the festival’s programming. “It’s more about Palestine rather than [specifically] Palestinian stories.” With a focus on reaching diverse audiences, the films don’t necessarily need to be made by Palestinian filmmakers, or even set in Palestine. Rather, they must have some connection to the culture through themes such as social life, politics, sport or history. Across fiction, documentary, short films and archival footage, this year’s programme offers the opportunity to experience Palestine beyond a single viewpoint.
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The festival began at SOAS University in the 1990s, where Khaled and a group of friends organised a handful of screenings. He still recalls the nostalgic sound of feeding the tapes into a VHS player. As the demand began to grow, so did the festival, prompting the organisers to expand to the Barbican while maintaining their roots at SOAS.
This year’s edition kicks off at the Barbican on November 13 with the UK premier of Who is Still Alive, directed by Nicolas Wadimoff. The film brings together nine voices from Gaza who recount their experiences of love, loss, and hope, told against the backdrop of the destruction of their homes. Rather than relying solely on traditional documentary footage, Wadimoff invites the participants to retrace their neighbourhoods with chalk, providing a visual form to the stories they share. As Gaza still faces immense tragedy and lessening news coverage, this film brings these personal experiences to the forefront. The screening will be followed by a conversation with Wadimoff and one of the film’s participants, Jawdat Khoudary.
Although the festival doesn’t focus on a predetermined theme, certain ones inevitably appear. The ongoing destruction in Gaza is represented throughout multiple films; “It is for unfortunate reasons that Gaza will stay the main theme of our festival,” says Khaled. “We have to give very good attention to what’s happening in Gaza and the ongoing genocide and the people.”
The programme also highlights three individual figures whose work has shaped art, intellectual and activist movements across Palestine and North America. On November 19 at Rio Cinema and November 20 at Riverside Studios, a series of three short films will celebrate the legacy of Palestinian filmmaker Mohammad Bakri. Often referred to as the founding father of Palestinian cinema, Bakri has an impressive repertoire of filmmaking, theatre production and acting. These screenings will be followed by a discussion with his son and actor, Saleh Bakri.
The UK première of Edward Said: Between Two Worlds will be shown on November 15 and 22. Directed by Maiken Baird, this documentary highlights one of Palestine’s most renowned intellectuals. With access to Said’s rare archival materials, the film follows his life from Jerusalem to New York, focusing on the themes of a life lived in exile. Baird will be joining the November 15 screening at Ciné Lumière for a discussion after the film.
