The administration of the Gaza International Women’s Film Festival, headed by the festival’s founder and president, Dr. Ezzedine Shallah, in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Culture, has announced the opening of submissions for the Official Screenplay Competition as part of the festival’s second edition, held under the theme “Women Creating Life from Death.”
Dr. Shallah stated that the screenplay competition is launched within the framework of supporting cinematic creativity and strengthening the presence of the Palestinian cause in artistic works. The competition targets screenwriters from all over the world, with the condition that submitted scripts address the Palestinian cause, either directly or indirectly. This initiative aims to encourage screenwriters internationally to write about Palestine, contributing to the production of Palestinian films that can be showcased at international film festivals.
Dr. Shallah explained that screenplay submissions will be accepted from 20 April 2026 until 30 May 2026. A specialized jury composed of experts in screenwriting and cinema will subsequently be formed to evaluate the submitted works and select the winning scripts according to high artistic and professional standards. He also noted that calls for submissions of feature-length and short fiction and documentary films from around the world will be announced at a later stage.
He further emphasized that the screenplay competition is part of the preparations for the second edition of the festival, which will take place from 26 to 31 October 2026, coinciding with the Palestinian Women’s National Day. The festival seeks to strengthen cultural and cinematic engagement while highlighting the voice of Palestinian women and their role in creating life despite ongoing challenges.
The festival aims 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 contribute to conveying its message to the world through cinema.
Competition Categories
Feature Screenplay Competition
- Feature Fiction Screenplays
- Feature Documentary Screenplays
Short Screenplay Competition
- Short Fiction Screenplays
- Short Documentary Screenplays
Submission Requirements
- The screenplay must address the Palestinian cause, either directly or indirectly.
- The screenplay must be for a fiction or documentary film, whether feature-length or short.
- Documentary screenplay submissions must include a complete concept and documentary script, whether for a short or feature-length film.
- Feature fiction screenplay submissions must be accompanied by a synopsis and a treatment.
- Files must be submitted in both Word and PDF formats, in Arabic, using Simple Arabic font, size 14.
- A curriculum vitae (CV) and a personal photograph must be attached.
Submission & Inquiries
For screenplay submissions or inquiries, please contact:
