Palestinian movies pull crowds at Indian film festival
Crowds in eastern India respond to films on Palestinian resistance as global attention intensifies on the Gaza crisis
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — Palestinian films drew exceptional turnout in eastern India this week as the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival featured works tracing Palestine’s anti-colonial struggle and the trauma of displacement—offering audiences a timely lens amid Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.
According to The Hindu, multiple screenings saw unusually large crowds who described the experience as an act of solidarity rather than a routine cultural event.
A major highlight was Palestine 36, the country’s official entry for the 2026 Academy Awards. Directed by Annemarie Jacir, the film revisits the 1936–39 uprising against British rule and depicts how Palestinian society was reshaped as Jewish settlers arrived under colonial protection.
The story, rooted in early 20th-century resistance, resonated strongly with viewers who drew parallels to the current devastation in Gaza.
“These films help humanize what is often dehumanized by mainstream media,” said filmmaker Abu Sohel Khondekar at the screening. “They show Palestinians as people with culture, humor and resilience. Keeping such films visible internationally makes the conversation urgent and deeply human.”
Audience members said the film illuminated the continuity of Palestinian suffering. One viewer said the historical frame intensified the present-day relevance: “It may be set in 1936, but the reality feels unchanged, maybe worse. It helped me understand the injustice better.”
Another Palestinian film, Songe (Passing Dreams) by director Rashid Masharawi, also drew attention for its exploration of exile, migration and the fragmentation of identity—experiences shared by displaced communities across the Middle East and beyond.
For many festival-goers, the Palestinian films served as a reminder that cultural spaces worldwide are resisting erasure and ensuring Palestinian narratives remain visible just as global concern over Gaza’s humanitarian crisis continues to escalate.
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