Two Palestinian films that have recently garnered international attention are set to make their Middle East and North Africa debuts at the upcoming Doha Film Festival, scheduled to take place from November 19 to 27.
“Conversation with the Sea,” directed by Muayad Alayan, is a family drama set in Jerusalem and marks the filmmaker’s latest work. The film had its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival before its North American debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. The narrative centers on Kamal, a 60-year-old Palestinian man who has been ordered by an Israeli court to repay a substantial social security debt allegedly incurred by his son Wael, whom Kamal believed had drowned decades ago in the Red Sea. When official records contradict this assumption, Kamal embarks on a journey to uncover the truth about his son’s fate. The film features actor Kamel El-Basha, known for winning the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the 2017 Venice International Film Festival for his role in “The Insult.” “Conversation with the Sea” is a co-production involving Palestine, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar and received support from the Red Sea Fund and the Doha Film Institute.
The second feature, “Thirteen in Gaza,” is the debut fiction film by Palestinian director Hosam Abu Dan. It premiered in the Centerpiece program of the 51st Toronto International Film Festival, where it received the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema Award. This film is notable for being the first fiction feature to be shot entirely in Gaza in 12 years, employing a local Palestinian cast and crew amid ongoing wartime conditions. Set in 2025, the story follows 13-year-old Raghad, whose home is destroyed during a bombing which claims the lives of several family members.
Both films highlight the lived experiences and challenges faced by Palestinians through intimate storytelling, while also drawing attention to the region’s complex social and political realities. Their inclusion in the Doha Film Festival’s international competition underscores the growing presence and recognition of Palestinian cinema on the global stage.