Cinema Akil’s ‘Reel Palestine’ Film Festival Lands in Dubai

Reel Palestine, the UAE-based annual film festival presented by Cinema Akil, returns from January 23rd to February 1st with a programme centred on Palestinian narratives across fiction and documentary cinema. This year’s edition brings together 11 feature films, four short films, and more than 25 screenings, including two Academy Award–nominated titles.
Alongside screenings, the festival extends into talks, workshops, the RP Souk, and a series of community-led events that frame the films within wider cultural and political conversations. The programme places emphasis on dialogue, with several screenings followed by filmmaker and cast discussions.
Highlights include Tarzan and Arab Nasser’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Gaza’, accompanied by a Q&A with actor Majd Eid; Abdulrahman Sabbah’s ‘The Clown of Gaza’ with a director Q&A; ‘Put Your Soul in Your Hand & Walk’ followed by a discussion with director Sepideh Farsi; and Annemarie Jacir’s ‘Palestine 36’, also paired with a post-screening conversation. All events will take place at Alserkal Avenue in Dubai. Tickets are available through Cinema Akil’s official website, with programme updates shared via its social platforms.