Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2023
Please note : this season finished in Dec 2023
The Bristol Palestine Film Festival (BPFF) presents a rich programme of the latest Palestinian cinema. This year’s festival takes place from Sat 2 - Sun 10 Dec across the city with a lineup of seven feature-length films and two short film evenings.
In preparing for this year's festival we met up with the festival organisers to discuss the sensitivities of holding the festival given the tragic events that are currently taking place. We agreed together that it was important to continue with the cultural work of understanding and reflecting through film even in these difficult times. Please read a statement from the BPFF organisers here. We echo the festival organisers in welcoming cinema goers from all communities and backgrounds who wish to come together for reflection, discussion and a shared experience of community and togetherness.
Screenings at Watershed start on Fri 8 Dec with a classic of Arab cinema, The Dupes, which is a saga about three Palestinian men risking everything to cross the desert looking for work.
On Sat 9 Dec there will be a showing of In the Shadow of Beirut, a beautiful and intimate portrayal of Sabra and Shatila refugee camps, where three generations of Palestinian refugees live alongside new arrivals from Syria as well as undocumented Lebanese residents. This is Ireland’s selection for the Oscars® Best International Film and we can see why this stunning portrait of humanity in the most inhumane circumstances has been chosen. There will be a Q&A with the director Garry Keane after the film.
Finally, on Sun 10 Dec we are showing Bye Bye Tiberias, Palestine’s official selection for this year’s Oscars®. Three decades ago Palestinian actor Hiam Abbass (Paradise Now, Succession) left her native village Deir Hanna in Galilee to follow her acting dream in France. After finding success in Hollywood she returns to Tiberias with her film director daughter Lina to explore her memories and the women she left behind. Director Lina Soualem will join us for a Q&A.
To see the full programme, head to the BPFF website.
