Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir’s (Instagram) latest work, Palestine 36, has been officially selected to represent Palestine in the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards. The sweeping period drama reconstructs the 1936 Arab revolt against British colonial rule and is Jacir’s most ambitious project to date.
The film follows the story of Yusuf, a young man swept into political upheaval as tensions rise across Jerusalem and his village. Against the backdrop of British crackdowns and the arrival of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, Yusuf’s personal struggle becomes intertwined with a defining chapter of Palestinian resistance.
Jacir, a Bethlehem-born director who lives and works between Ramallah, Jordan, and occasionally Israel, was preparing to begin principal photography in Bethlehem when the Israel-Hamas war broke out on October 7, 2023. Just one week before cameras were set to roll, the project was forced to halt. The team later relocated production to Jordan, before returning for additional filming in Palestine when circumstances allowed.
“Moving production was devastating, but the story had to be told,” Jacir has said in past. Despite the disruption, the international collaboration ensured the film’s survival, thanks to production partners from Palestine, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Palestine 36 brings together a high-profile cast that bridges Hollywood and the Arab world. Academy Award winner Jeremy Irons stars as a colonial commissioner, while Liam Cunningham, best known for Game of Thrones, and Robert Aramayo of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power play supporting roles. Palestinian actors Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbass, Yasmin Al Massri, and Kamel El Basha anchor the film with local authenticity.
The production is backed by a wide range of international companies and institutions. Philistine Films, founded by Jacir and producer Ossama Bawardi, leads the project, with additional support from France’s MK Productions, Denmark’s Snowglobe, and the U.K.’s Corniche Media, among others. Funding has come from the Doha Film Institute, Katara Studios, BBC Film, the BFI, and the Red Sea Fund, reflecting the project’s broad regional and global backing.
Jacir is no stranger to politically charged storytelling. Her earlier works, Salt of This Sea (2008), When I Saw You (2012), and Wajib (2017), all examined Palestinian identity and history through deeply personal narratives. Each of those films was also submitted to the Academy Awards as Palestine’s entry, making Palestine 36 her fourth submission.
This latest film, however, stands apart for its historical scope. By dramatizing the 1936 uprising, a pivotal but often overlooked episode in Palestinian and regional history, Jacir situates her work at the intersection of memory, resistance, and cultural identity.
Since Palestine first began submitting films to the Academy in 2003, it has received two nominations, both for films directed by Hany Abu-Assad: Paradise Now in 2006 and Omar in 2014. With Palestine 36, Palestinian cinema continues its pursuit of global recognition, even as filmmakers face political and logistical challenges unique to the region.
The independent selection committee that chose Palestine 36 emphasized the film’s cultural and historical importance. The decision was later confirmed by the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, underscoring its symbolic role as both a cinematic achievement and a national representation.
The film will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival later this year, where it is expected to draw significant international attention. From there, it will enter the awards circuit, with hopes of advancing to the Oscars shortlist, which will be announced on December 16, 2025. The final five nominees in the international feature category will be revealed on January 22, 2026.
For Jacir, Palestine 36 represents both a continuation of her cinematic journey and a landmark in Palestinian storytelling. By revisiting 1936, she connects past struggles for freedom with the present, ensuring that Palestinian narratives remain visible on the world stage.
For more stories of art and culture from across the MENA region, visit our dedicated archives.
