Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir’s latest feature, Palestine 36, will make its world premiere as a Gala Screening at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 5.
Set in 1936 during the Arab uprising against British rule in Palestine, the film explores a key moment in regional history, one that still echoes today. It’s a historical drama, but it’s also deeply human, focusing on family, resistance, and belonging.
At the heart of the story is Yusuf, a young Palestinian boy torn between his village and the tension building in Jerusalem. As British control tightens and Jewish immigrants arrive from Europe, the country teeters on the edge of revolution.
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The cast includes international stars like Jeremy Irons, Liam Cunningham, Hiam Abbass, [Esquire Middle East alumni] Dhafer L’Abidine, Yasmine Al Massri, and Saleh Bakri. Behind the camera is French cinematographer Hélène Louvart (The Lost Daughter), and it’s produced by Philistine Films in collaboration with partners across Palestine, Europe, and the Arab world.
Jacir’s most recent film Wajib (2017) won 18 international awards including Best Film in Mar Del Plata, Dubai, Amiens, and Kerala.
