Palestine Submits Palestine 36 as Oscar International Feature Entry

Annemarie Jacir’s film "Palestine 36" has been selected as Palestine’s official submission for the Best International Feature Film category at the 2025/2026 Academy Awards. The historical drama, set during the 1936-1939 Palestinian revolt against British colonial rule, follows Yusuf, a young man caught between his rural home and the political upheaval in Jerusalem amid British crackdowns and Jewish immigration. The film, featuring a high-profile ensemble cast including Jeremy Irons and Hiam Abbass, will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2025. Production was disrupted by the October 7, 2023, Israel-Hamas conflict, temporarily moving to Jordan before returning to Palestine for completion. Backed by numerous international production companies and cultural institutions, "Palestine 36" combines archival footage and narrative to highlight the colonial roots of the ongoing Palestinian Nakba, emphasizing the conflict as one of colonial violence rather than religious or ethnic strife. The Palestinian Ministry of Culture and an independent committee praised the film's cinematic power and its role in carrying the national narrative on the global stage.