Obituary Statement
Gaza International Women’s Film Festival
With profound sorrow and grief, the Gaza International Women’s Film Festival has received the news of the passing of the great Palestinian artist Mohammad Bakri, who passed away on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at the age of 72, leaving behind an immense artistic legacy and an unforgettable journey of struggle.
Mohammad Bakri was not merely an actor or director, but an authentic artistic voice who embodied the suffering and steadfastness of the Palestinian people, and carried our cause to the world’s theaters and screens. Through his immortal works such as “Jenin, Jenin,” “The Pessoptimist,” “Haifa,” and other profound pieces, he proved that art is a weapon of resistance and a tool of liberation.
The late artist was supposed to honor us with his presence as a member of the jury for the first edition of our festival, but his work commitments prevented him from doing so. Despite his physical absence, his artistic spirit and national legacy were and will remain present in every frame and scene we celebrate.
In this great loss, we extend our deepest condolences and sincerest sympathy to the family of the deceased, to his artist sons Saleh and Ziad Bakri, and to all lovers of his art in Palestine, the Arab world, and across the globe.
The passing of Mohammad Bakri represents a tremendous loss for Palestinian and Arab cinema, but we pledge to remain faithful to the path he charted and to continue the journey he began. We will carry his artistic and national message forward, and continue to spread the values he believed in: that art liberates humanity, and that cinema is a platform for truth and a mirror of collective memory.
May God have mercy on you, Abu Saleh, and grant you His vast paradise. We will not forget you, and your works will remain a testament to the greatness of what you have given.
Gaza International Women’s Film Festival
December 24, 2025
Obituary Statement Gaza International Women’s Film Festival
