Palestine: Last News

The Sundance Institute has today named the jurors who will preside over awards for the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. The 16-person lineup features everyone from CODA star Marlee Matlin to We Need To Talk About Cosby‘s W. Kamau Bell, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton and actor-comedian Jim Gaffigan.

EXCLUSIVE: Cohen Media Group has set a February U.S. theatrical rollout for Eran Kolirin’s Let It Be Morning, which was Israel’s entry for the 94th Academy Awards. The picture will open on February 3 at the Quad Cinema in New York and at the Laemmle Royal in Los Angeles before expanding to select cities around the country on February 10 and nationwide on February 17.

Mo Amer took inspiration from his own life for his Netflix comedy series Mo, co-created by Ramy Youssef, which follows a Palestinian refugee seeking asylum and U.S. citizenship in Houston. The series premiered in August on the streamer and quickly received acclaim for being one of the first American TV series to feature a Palestinian-American refugee protagonist. It also scored a Gotham Award for Breakthrough Series Under 40 Minutes.

Ruben Östlund’s latest satire, Triangle of Sadness, dominated the European Film Awards with four wins, including Best Film, the evening’s top prize.

Iraqi filmmaker Ahmed Yassin Al Daradji picked up the Golden Yusr for Best Feature Film at the Red Sea Film Festival with his debut feature Hanging Gardens.

Writer and stand-up comedian Mo Amer was the latest Hollywood name to pass through Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea film festival Wednesday where he discussed his varied career as part of the festival’s ‘In Conversation’ series and the potential of a second season of his well-received Netflix comedy Mo.

Bella Hadid was crowned Model of the Year at The Fashion Awards 2022 on Monday night. During the ceremony staged at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the American model was named the winner of the prestigious prize, beating out the likes of Adut Akech, Lila Moss, Paloma Elsesser, and Quannah Chasinghorse. Due to work commitments, Bella was unable to attend the presentation, but stylist Carlos Nazario accepted the accolade from Ashley Graham on her behalf.

Jordanian director Darin J. Sallam and producers Deema Azar and Ayeh Jadaneh have accused Israel of mounting a disinformation campaign against their film Farha and also rebuked the country for attempting to get it removed from theatres and Netflix.

When director Darin J. Sallam came to make her feature debut with Farah, she always knew what the subject matter would be: as a little girl, Sallam’s mother used to tell her the story of a teenage girl who was locked up in her room during the partition of Palestine in 1948. “She was locked up by her father to protect her life,” Sallam recalls. “She survived [the conflict] and she made it to Syria, where she met a Syrian girl and shared her story with her. This Syrian girl grew up, got married and had a child, and she shared the story with her daughter—and this daughter happened to be me.”

MENA-based distributor and producer Front Row Filmed Entertainment has acquired MENA rights for British-Palestinian filmmaker Basil Khalil’s feature debut A Gaza Weekend, ahead of its regional premiere at the Red International Film Festival this December.

Real estate developer Mohamed Hadid, 74, was spotted in Beverly Hills on Saturday in the presence of a stunning blonde companion.Gigi Hadid's dad, 74, was joined by model Maxime Nova, as they navigated the streets of Los Angeles's most expensive shopping area rocking casual outfits.The outing comes after the Palestinian born businessman recently made headlines as he hit the red carpet with the Real Housewives of Orange County star Keni Silva at the LACMA and Gucci Art + Film event in Los Angeles earlier this month.  Casual stroll: Real estate developer Mohamed Hadid , 74, was spotted in Beverly Hills on Saturday with model Maxime Nova Hadid, who is the father to several children including supermodel Gigi Hadid, cut a stylish figure in an all black ensemble complete with a lightweight knit hoodie, fitted pants and high top designer sneakers. Mohamed also has supermodel daughter Bella and son Anwar with his ex-wife Yolanda Hadid, who was on The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills.Meanwhile Maxime sported a simple all-black casual exercise outfit with white sneakers and a black and gold purse.

Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea Film Festival Unveils Jury

Palestinian director Firas Khoury’s debut feature Alam has triumphed at the 44th Cairo International Film Festival, winning its Golden Pyramid Award for Best Film, best actor for Mahmoud Bakri and the Audience Award.

EXCLUSIVE: Leading Arab world distributor MAD Solutions has acquired pan-Arab rights to Ameer Fakher Eldin’s upcoming picture Yunan about a disillusioned, exiled writer who travels to a remote island in the North Sea.

The third season of Ramy Youssef’s award-winning show Ramy, which dropped on Hulu at the end of September, saw the titular American-Egyptian protagonist head to Jerusalem to cut a business deal with a tough-talking diamond dealing clan in an episode entitled Egyptian Cigarettes.

Hailey Bieber looked effortlessly chic as she bundled up for a lunch with friends in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, before making her voice heard at the polls. For the laid-back outing, the 25-year-old supermodel kept warm in a long double breasted camel coat, as she stepped out on a rainy and windy day. The Rhode founder kept her look casual in sneakers, a baggy pair of faded jeans and a gray crewneck sweater.  Bundled up: Hailey Bieber, 25,  bundled up as she headed for lunch with friends in Los Angeles Tuesday, keeping warm in a long double breasted camel coat, as she stepped out on a rainy and windy day The runway veteran styled her long brunette locks straight and wore a billed denim hat and sunglasses.  She was spotted catching up with friends, including fellow model Fai Khadra, 30 at Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills. The Palestinian model was also decked out in warm clothes, that included a green sweater and dark jeans with sneakers.  Casual: The Rhode Beauty founder kept her look casual in sneakers, a baggy pair of faded jeans and a gray crewneck sweater. The runway veteran styled her long brunette locks straight and wore a billed denim hat and sunglassesAhead of her lunch date, the influencer shared a photo with an 'I Voted' sticker.She also uploaded a quick video on Instagram and in her Stories reminding her 49 million followers to turn in their ballots. The Vogue cover girl said she 'could not stress enough how important it is to vote.' Friends: She was spotted catching up with friends, including model Fai Khadra, 30 at Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills.

Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical, coming-of-age drama The Fabelmans has been announced as the opening film of 44th Cairo International Film Festival, running from November 13 to 22.

Leo Barraclough International Features Editor The North American rights to Firas Khoury’s coming-of-age drama “Alam” (The Flag) have been sold to Film Movement. The film premiered at Toronto Film Festival, and will be playing in competition at Rome Film Festival on Tuesday. The first trailer debuts here (below). MPM Premium is handling international sales. Michael Rosenberg of Film Movement said: “Set among a group of Palestinian teens living in Israel, Firas Khoury’s debut feature marries universal themes of growing up with the complex political awakening young Palestinians are forced to undergo living under occupation. Film Movement is excited to bring this tender coming of age drama to North American audiences next year.”

Marta Balaga Palestine’s Fresco Films has boarded Tamara Erde and Mathias Énard’s TV one-off “Breaking Bread,” with France’s Haut et Court Doc already locked as the main producer. Tony Copti will produce alongside Emma Lepers. Attempting to explore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through food, “Breaking Bread” will try to answer one question: Does gastronomy separate us or bring us together? Clocking in at 52 minutes, the documentary – to be shot in Arabic, Hebrew and French – will go into production in the spring of 2023. Mediawan Rights handles the sales.

John Hopewell Chief International Correspondent Fremantle has acquired international distribution rights to “East Side,” the latest series from “Shtisel” producer Abot Hameiri, starring Yehuda Levi, a Series Mania 2022 best actor winner for “Fire Dance.” Taking 100% ownership of Abot Hameiri last year, Fremantle, which also co-financed the series, will bring “East Side” onto the  market at this next week’s Mipcom trade fair and conference in Cannes. To debut on Israel’s Kan 11 channel, “East Side” turns on Momi,  a former Israeli secret service agent hired to take over a Palestinian neighbourhood, one home at a time. He attempts one last sale in order to set up for life his 18-year-old daughter Maya who is on the autism spectrum. The challenge is to wrestle ownership of a grand hotel which dominates entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City. Whoever controls the entrance controls the City, Momi is told. But the owner, the new Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, says he is not for selling.  

Primal Scream have collaborated with Aida Celtic FC and fashion brand A Number Of Names* (Anon*) for a new shirt to help fundraise for the refugee camp football team.The Scottish band have unveiled the “Palestinadelica” shirt, the title of which is a play on the group’s third album ‘Screamadelica‘ (1991) and Palestine, the territory where the Aida Refugee Camp is based.All proceeds from the sale of the shirt, which features the ‘Screamadelica’ artwork on the right hand shoulder and chest, will go towards helping train Aida Celtic footballers as well as provide sportswear for the refugees in Bethlehem. You can purchase the shirt here.Primal Scream, whose singer Bobby Gillespie is a known Celtic FC fan, have seemingly become involved with Aida Celtic in order to mirror the support shown by Celtic supporter ultra group, The Green Brigade.We have teamed up with @aida_celtic to make the Palastinadelica football shirt.