There are two Palestinian films at Venice: Ahmed Hassouna’s “Citizen Osama” and Muayad Alayan’s “Conversation With the Sea.”

A group of prominent Palestinian, Arab and international filmmakers and industry professionals on Monday launched the Gaza Cinema Academy at the Venice Film Festival. The new entity aims to establish a sustainable space for film education, training and production in Gaza, “while connecting emerging Palestinian filmmakers with the wider international film community,” as a statement put it.

The Gaza Cinema Academy is being supported by 2025 Venice Silver Lion winner — and Venice jury member — Kaouther Ben Hania (“The Voice of Hind Rajab”) and fellow directors Annemarie Jacir (“Palestine 36″), Mai Masri (“3000 Nights”) — who is the academy’s co-founder — and Ezzaldeen Shalah, as well as actors Hiam Abbas, Ramy Youssef and Saleh Bakri. Italian producer Graziella Bildesheim and Cairo-based distributor and Arab film industry promoter Alaa Karkouti are also on board.

https://variety.com/2026/film/global/gaza-cinema-academy-venice-film-festival-1236853163