Gaza Cinema Academy: Empowering Palestinian Filmmakers

The Gaza Cinema Academy was unveiled at the Venice Film Festival this past Monday, amid ongoing attention on the humanitarian issues facing the region. This new venture, founded by Palestinian filmmakers Ezzaldeen Shalh and Mai Masri, seeks to create a lasting hub for film education, training, and production within the Gaza Strip. Ezzaldeen Shalh, a Gaza-based director and film scholar prominent for his films such as The Dry Spring , The Other World , and Love and Bread , has also been instrumental in the creation of the Gaza International Women's Film Festival. Shalh explains, 'In Gaza, cinema is more than just an art form. It serves as a tool to preserve our memories, assert our right to define our narratives, and equip the next generation with the means to share their stories.' At the launch, a short film was shown featuring Shalh in a classroom setting, interacting with aspiring female filmmakers who expressed their aspirations to showcase their narratives on a global stage. La Gaza Cinema Academy offre formazione pratica ai giovani cineasti palestinesi. Support for the initiative has come from prominent figures in Palestinian film and television, such as Annemarie Jacir, Hiam Abbass, and Saleh Bakri. International support includes Egyptian comedian and filmmaker Ramy Youssef, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, Italian producer Graziella Bildesheim, and Alaa Karkouti, co-founder of the Cairo-based film promotion and talent company Mad Solutions. The formal establishment of the academy marks a significant advancement from its initial phase in 2024, which saw the introduction of the Gaza Filmmaking Diploma. This program, combining theory and practical training, began its first session in March 2026 with 25 young Palestinian women. Moreover, the academy is developing a filmmaking degree in collaboration with Al-Quds Open University, the primary institution for higher education among Palestinians, aiming to foster a sustainable academic framework for film studies in the Gaza Strip. La collaborazione con Al-Quds Open University mira a creare un percorso accademico sostenibile. Mai Masri, a trailblazer in Palestinian cinema, renowned for her 2015 film 3000 Nights which premiered in Toronto and was featured in numerous global festivals, states, 'Supporting the upcoming filmmakers in Gaza is about providing them a platform to articulate their realities, memories, and aspirations. We see creativity and cinema as powerful means to preserve human memory and forge connections that transcend geographical boundaries.' Shalh has reached out to various film and cultural institutions, festivals, film funds, production companies, and filmmakers globally, urging them to form partnerships with the Academy. This collaboration aims to share expertise, resources, and professional opportunities. 'Our goal for the Academy is to offer a window for the youth and women of Gaza to learn, create, and present their films, thus allowing their voices and visions to be heard worldwide. We invite partners from institutions, universities, and the international film community to join us in this endeavor,' he added.