The films reflect powerful Palestinian themes of resilience in the face of displacement, exile, and the intricacies of family life in diaspora communities.
Recently, the Palestine Film Institute (PFI) announced that two films backed by the Doha Film Institute (DFI) were honored at the 2024 Docs-in-Progress Palestine showcase during the Cannes Film Festival’s Docs programme.
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The films recognized are “The Myth of Mahmoud,” set to release at the end of this year, and “My Father’s House,” which will debut in January.
- This announcement aligns with PFI’s collaboration with Watermelon Pictures, a Palestinian-owned independent firm involved in film production and distribution. As part of this partnership, “The Myth of Mahmoud,” produced by Shaima Al Tamimi, has been awarded a grant of $2,500.
The narrative of “The Myth of Mahmoud” follows Mayar Jamal Hamdan, who co-directed the film with Al Tamimi. It traces her maternal family’s six-decade history in Qatar and delves into the effects of grief and unlawful displacement on the Palestinian diaspora, capturing the struggles of her mother, Amal, who is facing the loss of her residency sponsor, her grandfather Mahmoud Said. Hamdan expressed her gratitude to PFI for the chance to represent Palestine at Cannes. The film has also received an award for its color grading.
Father-Son Bond
Mahdi Fleifel’s film “My Father’s House” has been awarded a $5,000 Cannes Docs Hiventy Post-Production in-kind award. This documentary chronicles Fleifel’s return to Elsinore, Denmark, nine years after his father’s passing.
- The film explores themes such as exile, memory, and the father-son relationship.
After the loss of his father, Fleifel uncovered a treasure trove of photographs and videotapes spanning the last 11 years of his father’s life. He also found footage from his father’s 2009 pilgrimage to Mecca, recalling a conversation where his father wished for this footage to be shown to him someday.
In light of the devastating events following October 7—where reports indicate that Israel’s military actions have resulted in the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinians and left many more wounded—the PFI emphasized the critical need to elevate Palestinian narratives. They stated, "The months since October 2023 have highlighted the immense struggle we endure as Palestinians to simply exist. In the face of ongoing violence, the importance of Palestinian filmmaking as a channel for creative resistance, dialogue, and exchange has never been more urgent."
