The Gaza International Festival for Women’s Cinema, headed by the festival’s founder Dr. Ezzaldeen Shalh, is preparing to launch its second edition from 26 to 31 October 2026, in the central Gaza Strip, with the participation of a distinguished group of filmmakers, artists, and academics from Palestine, the Arab world, and the international community.
The Gaza International Festival for Women’s Cinema is the official platform of the Gaza Cinema Academy, founded by Dr. Ezzaldeen Shalh and Palestinian director and producer Mai Masri, alongside founding filmmakers and artists from the Arab and international worlds: Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania, Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir, Palestinian actor Saleh Bakri, Italian filmmaker Graziella Bildesheim, Egyptian artist Ramy Youssef, Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass, and Egyptian filmmaker Alaa Karkouti.
The Narrative Films Jury is chaired by Palestinian artist Areen Omari, with director Jamal Amin, filmmaker Lamia Belkaied Guiga, artist Hossam Abu Aisha, and artist Tecla Insolia as members, while the Documentary Films Jury is chaired by Italian director Costanza Quatriglio, with director Mamoun Al-Bunni, director Nadia Zouaoui, director Ahmed Rashwan, and director Rima Mahmoud as members.
First: Narrative Films Jury
Areen Omari: A Palestinian actress, director, and producer with a presence in Palestinian and Arab cinema. She has participated in films including “Laila’s Birthday,” “Haifa,” and “Ama Baad.” She also participated in establishing the Cinema Production Center in Ramallah and has experience in acting, directing, production, and participation in film juries.
Jamal Amin: An Iraqi director and filmmaker who studied film directing at the Institute of Fine Arts and worked in Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, and Denmark. His experience spans acting, directing, editing, production, television, and documentary films. His works include “Rake,” “Life in the Shadows,” and “Spare Parts.”
Lamia Belkaied Guiga: A Tunisian researcher and university professor specializing in cinema and audiovisual studies, with a PhD in Information and Communication Sciences. She taught film history and film analysis and served as director of the Higher School of Audiovisual and Cinema in Gammarth. She also served as artistic director of the Carthage Film Festival in its 2023 and 2024 editions.
Hossam Abu Aisha: A Palestinian artist and actor who began his theatrical activity at an early age and was among the founders of the Popular Theatre and Al-Sanabel Theatre in Jerusalem. His experience extended to cinema, television, radio, and comedy. He served as president of the Palestinian Artists Syndicate for three years and received numerous awards.
Artist Tecla Insolia: An Italian actress and singer who began her career in music and won the Sanremo Young competition before moving into film and television acting. In 2026, she was selected for the European Shooting Stars program. Her works include “Primavera,” “L’albero,” “Familia,” and “The Art of Joy.”
Second: Documentary Films Jury
Director Costanza Quatriglio: An Italian director and screenwriter who studied law before obtaining a diploma in directing from the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia in Rome. She has made narrative and documentary films screened at international film festivals. Her most notable works include “L’isola,” “Terramatta,” and “Triangle,” and she has received a number of awards and honors throughout her film career.
Mamoun Al-Bunni: A Syrian director who studied cinematography and film directing in France and has a long career in Syrian and Arab television and drama directing. His works include “Martyrs on the Road to Palestine,” “Maraya 2000,” and “Women Without Wings,” in addition to a number of dramatic works.
Nadia Zouaoui: An Algerian-Canadian director, journalist, and producer who studied literature, journalism, and communication at the Université de Montréal and McGill University. She worked with media and film institutions in Canada and with Al Jazeera Documentary. Among her most notable works is “Nadia’s Journey / Le voyage de Nadia,” which addressed the situation of women in Algeria’s Kabylie region and received awards.
Ahmed Rashwan: An Egyptian director, screenwriter, and producer who founded Dream Production in 1999 with the aim of supporting independent cinema. He directed documentary and short films and presented his feature film “Basra” in 2008. He has received numerous awards and has also participated in juries and in organizing festivals and workshops.
Rima Mahmoud: A Palestinian director from Gaza and one of the co-founders of the Gaza International Festival for Women’s Cinema. She has made several documentary films, including “Selfie,” “Article 18,” “Remnants of a Soul,” “Suspended Souls,” and “Colors Under the Sky.”
