The Gaza International Women’s Film Festival, under the leadership of its founder and president, Dr. Ezzedeen Shallah, and in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, has announced the opening of submissions for its Official Screenplay Competition as part of the festival’s second edition, held under the slogan “Women Creating Life from Death.”
Dr. Shallah stated that the competition is launched as part of the festival’s efforts to support cinematic creativity and strengthen the presence of the Palestinian cause in artistic works. The competition is open to screenwriters from around the world, provided that the submitted scripts address the Palestinian cause either directly or indirectly. The initiative aims to encourage writers internationally to create stories about Palestine and contribute to the production of Palestinian films that can be showcased at international film festivals.
Submissions will be accepted from April 20, 2026, until May 30, 2026. A specialized committee of cinema and screenplay professionals will be formed to evaluate the submitted works and select the winning projects according to high artistic and professional standards. The festival will also announce, at a later stage, the opening of submissions for feature-length and short narrative and documentary films from around the world.
Dr. Shallah emphasized that the screenplay competition is part of the preparations for the festival’s second edition, which will take place from October 26–31, 2026, coinciding with the Palestinian National Women’s Day. The competition aims to promote cultural and cinematic engagement while highlighting the voice of Palestinian women and their role in creating life despite the challenges they face.
The festival seeks to empower Palestinian women in filmmaking and to serve as an important platform for supporting emerging talents and encouraging productions that reflect Palestinian identity and help convey its message to the world through cinema.
Competition Categories
- Feature-Length Screenplay Competition (Narrative and Documentary)
- Short Screenplay Competition (Narrative and Documentary)
Submission Requirements
- The screenplay must address the Palestinian cause, either directly or indirectly.
- The screenplay must be written for a narrative or documentary film, whether feature-length or short.
- Documentary projects must include a complete concept and documentary script for both short and feature-length formats.
- Feature-length narrative screenplays must be accompanied by a synopsis and treatment.
- Scripts must be submitted in both Word and PDF formats, in Arabic, using Simple Arabic, 14 pt font.
- A curriculum vitae (CV) and a personal photo must be attached.
Submission and Inquiries
Email: gaza.gifwc2@gmail.com
