VIDEOS: “Palestine 36,” sponsored by Roya, premieres at TIFF with stars showing support for Gaza
The historical drama Palestine 36, directed by Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir, had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on Friday, drawing a high-profile audience of Arab and international stars while the cast staged a protest on the red carpet demanding an end to “the extermination in Gaza.”
During the premiere at Roy Thomson Hall, actor Karim Dawood Anaya appeared carrying a plastic bag filled with fake blood, containing a camera and a Palestinian keffiyeh, while other cast members waved Palestinian flags and held signs reading “Stop the extermination.” Producer Ossama Bawardi pinned a Palestinian flag to his jacket, and actor Zaid Ghazal raised his hands with the same message written on them.
Historical Drama on 1936 Palestinian Revolt
Palestine 36 is set in 1936, during the Palestinian revolt against British colonial rule. The film follows Yusuf, a young man navigating life between his quiet rural village and the politically charged streets of Jerusalem.
As tensions escalate amid growing demands for independence, Yusuf’s journey reflects the broader struggle for Palestinian sovereignty. Jacir described the film as told in an “intimate, personal, and realistic” way, highlighting the life-altering decisions individuals were forced to make. She called the project “the hardest adventure” of her career, noting it coincided with a year “full of blood and violence.”
The film also incorporates rare archival footage from the 1930s, digitally recolored to reinforce the message that “the struggle for Palestinian sovereignty continues today.” Part of the production was moved to Jordan due to the 2023 Gaza war, with archival material helping depict locations that were destroyed and no longer exist.
International Co-Production with Jordanian Support
Palestine 36 is a large-scale international co-production involving Palestine, the UK, France, Denmark, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan.
Jordanian support came from Roya Media Group, which helped finance the project alongside major global institutions including the British Film Institute (BFI), BBC Film, the Doha Film Institute, the Red Sea Fund, and official Jordanian support from the Jordan Film Fund and the Royal Film Commission.
Star-Studded Cast
The film features an ensemble of acclaimed actors including Oscar-winning British actor Jeremy Irons, Hiam Abbass, Kamel El Basha, Saleh Bakri, Yasmine Al Massri, and Dhafer L’Abidine, alongside emerging talents. Other attendees at the Toronto premiere included Zafer Al Abidin and Karim Dawood, contributing to a prominent Arab presence on the festival’s red carpet.
