Gaza Cinema Academy Launches at Venice Film Festival
A group of Palestinian, Arab and international filmmakers have launched the Gaza Cinema Academy at the 2026 Venice Film Festival, aiming to build a permanent institution for film education, training and production in the Gaza Strip. The announcement came during the 83rd edition of the festival, running on the Lido di Venezia from 2 to 12 September. (Variety)
The academy's co-founders include Mai Masri, a veteran Palestinian filmmaker, and Ezzaldeen Shalah, who founded the Gaza International Women's Film Festival. That festival held its first edition from 26 to 31 October 2025, staged amid rubble in the Gaza Strip and opening with the film The Voice of Hind Rajab. (Variety)
Support for the academy spans a wide circle of names from across Arab and international cinema. Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, who won the 2025 Venice Silver Lion and sits on this year's festival jury, is backing the project. Directors Annemarie Jacir, Masri and Shalah are joined by actors Hiam Abbas, Ramy Youssef and Saleh Bakri. On the production and distribution side, Italian producer Graziella Bildesheim and Cairo-based distributor Alaa Karkouti are involved. (Variety)
The academy will focus on film education and training, with an emphasis on supporting young talent and women. Its goals also include developing and producing new Palestinian films and building a sustainable film institution in Gaza — connecting emerging Palestinian filmmakers with the international film community. (Variety)
This year's Venice lineup has been described as its most political ever, addressing Gaza, Ukraine, ICE and the rise of authoritarian power, according to The Hollywood Reporter. (The Hollywood Reporter) Two Palestinian films are in the 2026 Venice official selection: Ahmed Hassouna's Citizen Osama and Muayad Alayan's Conversation With the Sea. (Variety)
For a festival that serves as one of the global launch pads for autumn releases and awards-season positioning, the launch puts Palestinian cinema directly in front of the buyers, sales agents and festival programmers who decide what reaches screens in the coming years. That the announcement comes from filmmakers who have already staged a festival among rubble gives the academy a foundation built on practice, not just intention.
