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Palestine 36 by Annemarie Jacir successfully screens at BFI London with director, cast, and crew in tow
21 October 2025
Having made waves worldwide, PALESTINE 36 — Palestine’s official submission for the Academy Awards — held a successful screening at London’s BFI Festival, taking place from October 8th to the 19th.
Director Annemarie Jacir was in attendance, along with actors Yasmine Al Massri, Dhafer L’Abidine, Billy Howle, Jeremy Irons, Aya Khalaf, Ward Helou, and Charles Dance; as well as crew members Ossama Bawardi, Azzam Fakhreddin, Hani Farsi, Cat Villiers, and Nils Astrand.
The renowned Jeremy Irons gave a speech, stating that he was "delighted to be part of this film," and "proud to have been a part of the story", further going on to reiterate the importance of retelling history in the face of the atrocities and injustice being waged against Palestine now, and since 1936.
The film held its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, where it sold out right off the bat. It has since screened at the AFI Fest, Rome Film Festival, and the Red Sea International Film Festival, with selections at major international festivals like Chicago, Tokyo, São Paulo, Cork, and Thessaloniki. The film has also been submitted to the 98th Academy Awards and is set to compete at the 38th European Awards.
A revisit of the events leading to the Arab Revolt of 1936, PALESTINE 36 follows Yusuf as he drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest of 1936 Mandate Palestine, where several villages were rising up against British rule.
However, history is relentless; with rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping an increasingly fascist Europe and Palestinian calls for independence, all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.
A co-production between Palestine, the UK, France, Denmark, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, the film includes a roster of A-list actors, with many of Palestinian origin; including Hiam Abbass (PARADISE NOW, BLADE RUNNER 49), Palestinian cinema and theater icon Kamel El Basha, Saleh Bakri (SALT OF THIS SEA), and Yasmine Al-Massri (Netflix’s CASTLEVANIA, THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US!), alongside top-shot British actor Jeremy Irons, the acclaimed Tunisian actor and model Dhafer L’Abidine, Billy Howle, GAME OF THRONES stars Liam Cunningham and Robert Aramayo, Syrian actor Jalal Altawil, as well as the debuting Yafa Bakri and Karim Daoud Anaya.
Already with several films under her belt — four of which, now, were Palestine’s official Oscar entries — Annemarie Jacir describes PALESTINE 36 as “the most challenging endeavor of my life.” Reflecting on “this past year of blood, violence, and death,” she adds, “It was the year I would create something made with so many collective hands and hearts, and so much love and defiance.”
The film is produced by Ossama Bawardi, with co-production by Azzam Fakhrildin, Cat Villiers, Hani Farsi, Nils Åstrand, Olivier Barbier, Katrin Pors, Hamza Ali, and Elissa Pierre (through Philistine Films, Autonomous, Corniche Media, MK Productions, and Snowglobe); cinematography by Hélène Louvart; and music by Ben Frost. It is also distributed in the Arab World by MAD Distribution.
Annemarie Jacir has written, directed, and produced over 16 films, with premieres at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, and Telluride. All four features she directed were Palestine's Oscar entries. She also directed the first feature by a Palestinian female director, the acclaimed SALT OF THIS SEA—a FIPRESCI winner and her second work to debut at Cannes. WHEN I SAW YOU won Best Asian Film at the Berlinale, and WAJIB garnered 36 awards, including those at Mar Del Plata, Dubai, and London.
As the founder of the independent production company Philistine Films, Jacir frequently collaborates with Arab filmmakers in roles including editor, screenwriter, and producer. She is deeply committed to working with local crews and nurturing emerging Arab talent through mentorship and training, actively supporting the growth of independent cinema across the region.
Jacir lives in Palestine and has served on juries for major film festivals, like Cannes, Berlin, and Sundance. She is a member of several prestigious film academies, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy.
In her hometown of Bethlehem, she co-founded Dar Jacir, an independent, artist-run cultural space. Her work has been celebrated in retrospectives at venues like the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Director Annemarie Jacir was in attendance, along with actors Yasmine Al Massri, Dhafer L’Abidine, Billy Howle, Jeremy Irons, Aya Khalaf, Ward Helou, and Charles Dance; as well as crew members Ossama Bawardi, Azzam Fakhreddin, Hani Farsi, Cat Villiers, and Nils Astrand.
The renowned Jeremy Irons gave a speech, stating that he was "delighted to be part of this film," and "proud to have been a part of the story", further going on to reiterate the importance of retelling history in the face of the atrocities and injustice being waged against Palestine now, and since 1936.
The film held its world premiere at the 50th Toronto International Film Festival, where it sold out right off the bat. It has since screened at the AFI Fest, Rome Film Festival, and the Red Sea International Film Festival, with selections at major international festivals like Chicago, Tokyo, São Paulo, Cork, and Thessaloniki. The film has also been submitted to the 98th Academy Awards and is set to compete at the 38th European Awards.
A revisit of the events leading to the Arab Revolt of 1936, PALESTINE 36 follows Yusuf as he drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest of 1936 Mandate Palestine, where several villages were rising up against British rule.
However, history is relentless; with rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping an increasingly fascist Europe and Palestinian calls for independence, all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.
A co-production between Palestine, the UK, France, Denmark, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, the film includes a roster of A-list actors, with many of Palestinian origin; including Hiam Abbass (PARADISE NOW, BLADE RUNNER 49), Palestinian cinema and theater icon Kamel El Basha, Saleh Bakri (SALT OF THIS SEA), and Yasmine Al-Massri (Netflix’s CASTLEVANIA, THANK YOU FOR BANKING WITH US!), alongside top-shot British actor Jeremy Irons, the acclaimed Tunisian actor and model Dhafer L’Abidine, Billy Howle, GAME OF THRONES stars Liam Cunningham and Robert Aramayo, Syrian actor Jalal Altawil, as well as the debuting Yafa Bakri and Karim Daoud Anaya.
Already with several films under her belt — four of which, now, were Palestine’s official Oscar entries — Annemarie Jacir describes PALESTINE 36 as “the most challenging endeavor of my life.” Reflecting on “this past year of blood, violence, and death,” she adds, “It was the year I would create something made with so many collective hands and hearts, and so much love and defiance.”
The film is produced by Ossama Bawardi, with co-production by Azzam Fakhrildin, Cat Villiers, Hani Farsi, Nils Åstrand, Olivier Barbier, Katrin Pors, Hamza Ali, and Elissa Pierre (through Philistine Films, Autonomous, Corniche Media, MK Productions, and Snowglobe); cinematography by Hélène Louvart; and music by Ben Frost. It is also distributed in the Arab World by MAD Distribution.
Annemarie Jacir has written, directed, and produced over 16 films, with premieres at prestigious festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, and Telluride. All four features she directed were Palestine's Oscar entries. She also directed the first feature by a Palestinian female director, the acclaimed SALT OF THIS SEA—a FIPRESCI winner and her second work to debut at Cannes. WHEN I SAW YOU won Best Asian Film at the Berlinale, and WAJIB garnered 36 awards, including those at Mar Del Plata, Dubai, and London.
As the founder of the independent production company Philistine Films, Jacir frequently collaborates with Arab filmmakers in roles including editor, screenwriter, and producer. She is deeply committed to working with local crews and nurturing emerging Arab talent through mentorship and training, actively supporting the growth of independent cinema across the region.
Jacir lives in Palestine and has served on juries for major film festivals, like Cannes, Berlin, and Sundance. She is a member of several prestigious film academies, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, BAFTA, and the Asia Pacific Screen Academy.
In her hometown of Bethlehem, she co-founded Dar Jacir, an independent, artist-run cultural space. Her work has been celebrated in retrospectives at venues like the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York and the Toronto International Film Festival.
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