The management of the Gaza International Women’s Film Festival, in cooperation with the Palestinian Ministry of Culture and several Arab and international film institutions, under the leadership of the festival’s founder and president, Dr. Ezzedeen Shallah, has announced the launch of the official poster for the festival’s second edition. The event will be held from October 26 to 31, 2026, in the Central Governorate of Gaza, with the participation of filmmakers, cinema professionals, and films from Palestine and various countries around the world.
Dr. Shallah stated that this year’s poster carries the slogan “Women Creating Life from Death,” a powerful visual and humanitarian message that reflects the strength of Palestinian women and their ability to transform pain into hope while preserving the spirit of life and creativity despite immense challenges. The slogan highlights the festival’s mission of empowering women through cinema and addressing their humanitarian concerns.
He explained that the poster’s artistic design combines the symbolism of women and cinema. At the center of the poster is the image of a woman whose eyes are covered with a strip of film, symbolizing cinema as a window to vision, truth, and memory. Traditional Palestinian elements and white doves are also featured as symbols of life, peace, and resilience.
Dr. Shallah emphasized that through its second edition, the festival seeks to strengthen the presence of Palestinian, Arab, and international women’s cinema and to create a space for cultural and humanitarian dialogue through film. The festival will focus on women’s issues, humanitarian concerns, and the stories of women living in areas affected by conflict and war.
The festival administration will soon announce the opening of submissions through its official website and social media platforms. The festival welcomes feature-length and short narrative and documentary films addressing women’s issues from all countries around the world.
He added that the festival continues its cultural and artistic mission of supporting women’s voices and emerging filmmakers while reinforcing Gaza’s position as a cinematic platform capable of producing life, beauty, and art despite difficult circumstances. The festival had previously announced its Screenwriting Competition, with May 30, 2026, set as the deadline for screenplay submissions.
The Gaza International Women’s Film Festival serves as a cultural and cinematic platform dedicated to empowering women in the field of cinema and promoting cultural exchange among filmmakers from around the world.
