Dhafer Al-Abidin in the “Oscars” because of “Palestine 36”.. and he narrates his experience in “Sharjah Bookstore”
Tunisian star Dhafer El Abidine continues the journey of showing his film “Palestine 36” at international festivals, after the film achieved remarkable success when it was shown for the first time at the Toronto Film Festival, where the film received applause for about twenty minutes.
The film, whose events deal with a historical drama, centered around the Palestinian revolution against the British Mandate in 1936, and the call for national independence, was shortlisted for the “European Film Awards” in its 38th session, which is organized annually by the European Film Academy. In recognition of cinematic achievements and excellence.
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Dhafer Al-Abidin in the “Oscars” because of “Palestine 36”.. and he narrates his experience in “Sharjah Bookstore”
The film “Palestine 36” follows the story of “Youssef,” a man who moves between his rural village and the city of Jerusalem, looking forward to a future beyond the escalating unrest of that period. Dhafer Al-Abidin stars in the film, alongside British artist Jeremy Irons, winner of the Oscar, Palestinian actress Hiam Abbas, Palestinian actor Kamel Al-Basha, Saleh Bakri, Yasmine Al-Masry, and Jalal Al-Taweel, and it was directed by Anne-Marie Jacir.
The film embodies the spirit of Palestinian resistance and revives an important historical memory, which made the Palestine Film Committee nominate it to represent the State of Palestine in the 2026 Oscars, in the category “Best Foreign Feature Film,” which will be held on March 15.
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The Palestinian Minister of Culture, Imad Hamdan, said: This nomination embodies the ability of Palestinian cinema to carry the national narrative and defend identity in the face of attempts to obliterate and exterminate, as the film presents a fundamental picture of the Palestinian issue. As a form of externally supported colonial violence, while maintaining a high artistic level, it places Palestine in a distinguished position on the global cinematic map.
The film “Palestine 36” monitors the events of the Palestinian revolution against the British Mandate in 1936, through the story of “Youssef,” who lives between his rural village and the city of Jerusalem, which was ablaze with events at that time. As tensions rise, he finds himself in the middle of a reality in which village uprisings intersect with increasing waves of Jewish immigrants, coming from fascist Europe. In light of the Palestinians’ insistence on gaining independence, and Britain’s assertiveness in imposing its control, all parties are heading towards a fateful clash that will leave a profound impact on the future of the region.
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Dhafer Al-Abidin in the “Oscars” because of “Palestine 36”.. and he narrates his experience in “Sharjah Bookstore”
In another context, the Tunisian star, Dhafer El Abidine, will be a guest at the forty-fourth session of the Sharjah International Book Fair, scheduled to be held from November 5 to 16, where he will participate alongside the Egyptian star Khaled El Sawy, in a dialogue session entitled: “From Acting to Writing… Artists Tell the Story,” within the “Art and Literature” program, in the celebration hall of the Expo Center Sharjah.
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