The Gaza Cinema Academy was formally launched this week at the opening of the second Gaza International Women’s Film Festival in al-Bureij, central Gaza. On Monday, 26 October 2026, the festival screened five documentaries made by young Palestinian women who are studying on the academy’s filmmaking diploma, giving a new generation of storytellers a public platform despite the hardships of life in the Strip.
A classroom for 25 women filmmakers
The academy’s diploma began in March 2026 with 25 young Palestinian women. According to Al Jazeera, it was developed with al-Quds Open University and is accredited by the Palestinian Ministry of Education. The National, which reported on the project when it was presented at the Venice Film Festival in September, described it as a nine-month course that combines theory with hands-on production.
The academy was co-founded by Palestinian directors Ezzaldeen Shalh and Mai Masri, and is supported by well-known figures in Arab and international cinema, including actors Ramy Youssef, Hiam Abbass and Saleh Bakri, and directors Kaouther Ben Hania and Annemarie Jacir.
The films on screen
The opening screening took place at the site of al-Nakheel Hall, a venue destroyed during the war. Among the films was A Sack of Flour, an 11-minute documentary by emerging filmmaker Mona Abu Qass, and Beyond Silence, the directing debut of journalist Raghda al-Buhaisi, which follows people living with disabilities in Gaza. “Art can cross barriers of language and silence,” al-Buhaisi told Al Jazeera. Other titles shown included Soso: The Lifeline, Remnants of Light and Dandana.
The festival, themed “Women Creating Life from Death”, runs until 31 October and features 73 films from 24 countries. Rima Mahmoud and Mai Masri are its co-founders.
Why this story matters
Islam places great value on seeking knowledge, ilm, for both men and women, and on bearing honest witness to what one sees. An accredited course that lets young women in Gaza learn a craft, earn a qualification and document their community’s daily life fits squarely within that tradition. It also matters for women in Muslim communities elsewhere, including in India, who are increasingly entering media and documentary work. Read more on our site about the OIC’s Palestine Days and Palestinian youth culture and the winter conditions facing families in Gaza.
What comes next
Mai Masri said the academy is seeking agreements with distributors so the students’ films can be shown at educational and cultural institutions abroad, and aims to help directors reach international festivals and digital platforms. Organisers have appealed for technical and financial support, translation help and festival partnerships. A full filmmaking degree with al-Quds Open University is also in development.
Key facts
- Gaza Cinema Academy formally launched at the second Gaza International Women’s Film Festival, al-Bureij.
- Diploma started in March 2026 with 25 young Palestinian women.
- Accredited by the Palestinian Ministry of Education, developed with al-Quds Open University.
- Festival runs to 31 October with 73 films from 24 countries.
FAQ
Who founded the Gaza Cinema Academy?
Palestinian directors Ezzaldeen Shalh and Mai Masri.
Can the films be watched outside Gaza?
Not yet widely. The academy says it is negotiating with distributors and festivals to screen them abroad.
Source: Al Jazeera — Gaza’s women filmmakers turn pain into cinema; The National — Ramy Youssef and Hiam Abbass back new Gaza cinema academy
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