The eighth edition of the annual Palestine Cinema Days kicked off on Wednesday at the Cultural Palace in Ramallah with a screening of Palestine’s entry to the Oscars 2022, “The Stranger” (Al-Gharib), by filmmaker Ameer Fakher Eldin from the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights, according to a press release.

This year, Palestine Cinema Days screened more than 60 carefully-selected fiction, documentary, and short films, bringing together cinema enthusiasts across the six Palestinian cities of Ramallah, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Gaza, Haifa, and Nazareth.

The 8th edition of the film festival is held from November 3-8 and will showcase Palestinian independent and artistic productions as well as rich and bold narratives from Arab and international cinema. Reflecting Filmlab’s year-round activities, and in the same spirit of enhancing the cinema culture in Palestine, a special lineup of films will also be programmed for the younger generation, said the press release.

In addition to film screenings, Q&A sessions and masterclasses with filmmakers will also be held, creating a unique space for discussions about film, and building bridges for cultural dialogue and film cooperation between Palestine and the world, it added.

“Stemming from our belief in the importance of creating space for art, creativity, and innovation, for the fifth year in a row, the three Sunbird Competitions continue to be a significant part of Palestine Cinema Days. These three competitive sections aim at highlighting the finest new short films, feature-length documentaries, and promising short film projects related to Palestine,” according to the press release.

The 4th edition of Palestine Film Meetings (PFM), the festival’s industry platform, is held in parallel to Palestine Cinema Days 2021 activities. The PFM is a one-of-a-kind networking platform for international, Arab, and Palestinian film professionals attending Palestine Cinema Days. It aims at boosting the Palestinian film industry and connecting it with the global film industry.

PFM 2021 sheds the light on the composites that influence the film production wheel. It will also explore the policies and work mechanisms needed to push this industry forward in Palestine and consolidate the work of the various stakeholders.

Founded in 2014 by FilmLab Palestine, Palestine Cinema Days is the first and only platform for Palestinian cinema. It has a leading role in strengthening the Palestinian cinema industry, fostering local talents and it has a leading role in strengthening the Palestinian cinema industry, fostering local talents, and being an active member in the international film scene.