The curtain rises today in Cagliari on the Al Ard International Festival of Arab and Palestinian Cinema : at 6 pm at the Teatro Massimo, the inauguration of the twenty-first edition, in the presence of the president of the Cultural Association Friendship Sardinia Palestine Fawzi Ismail.

We start with the film “Reporting under genocide: six months in Gaza” by Shrouq H. Al-Aila (Palestine, Gaza Strip, 2024). «The director», we read in a press release, «documents the courage of three Palestinian journalists who report from different regions of Gaza. Following the expulsion of international journalists, Palestinian reporters face immense risks to cover the unprecedented violence that began on October 7. Despite threats, injuries and personal losses, they remain committed to sharing the reality of Gaza with the world. The film shows their determination, despite the destruction of their homes and offices, and highlights the personal and professional sacrifices they endure».

Next up is the film “A State of Passion” by Carol Mansour & Muna Khalidi” (Lebanon, 2024), «which documents the grueling work of British-Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sittah as a volunteer under constant bombardment in the emergency rooms of Gaza’s Al Shifa and Al Ahli hospitals. This was his sixth “war” in Gaza and also his most gruesome. One wonders why he does it, where he finds the strength and what repercussions it has on his family. The answer lies in the passion they all share for Palestine, which they express through their support for his high-risk humanitarian work».

We continue with “A Dream of reunion in war time” by Hamza Amjed Essa Afana (Palestine, 2024): the story of two brothers who are professionals in the media sector; one of them works in the West Bank and the other in the Gaza Strip. Through their stories, the narrative focuses on the genocide in the Gaza Strip starting from October 7th. To make the situation of the two brothers even more tragic, there is also the shocking news of the martyrdom of some of their relatives.

The evening will close with the documentary “Vibrations from Gaza” by Rehab Nazzal (Palestine/Canada, 2024), «a look at the lives of young generations with hearing disabilities who grew up under the embargo and the continuous Israeli aggression in the occupied Gaza Strip. The narrative is effectively conveyed through the voices of children, who describe their perception of the bombings, the destruction and the buzzing of drones».

The jury is composed of: Salim Abu Jabal , film critic and director; Nur Masalha , Palestinian writer, historian and academic; Linda Paganelli , artist, anthropologist and director; Alberto Diana , director and documentary filmmaker; Lina Bokhary , head of the Cinema Department of the Palestinian Ministry of Culture. During the last evening, on March 1st, the following awards will be assigned: best feature-length documentary; best short documentary; best fiction short; audience award.

Al Ard Film Festival is organized by the Cultural Association Amicizia Sardegna Palestina ODV, with the financial contribution of the Autonomous Region of Sardinia, the collaboration of the University of Cagliari and the Società Umanitaria – Cineteca Sarda and sponsored by the Municipality of Cagliari.

Admission is free. The full program can be downloaded from the website https://alardfilmfestival.com/editions/xxi-edition-2025

(Online Union)

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