El Gouna Film Festival (GFF) is proud to announce the return of its highly regarded and much-anticipated  "Window on Palestine" program for the third year, as part of the festival's 8th edition, which will run from October 16-24, 2025. This year's selection will feature a special showcase of seven short documentaries from the 'From Ground Zero+' initiative, offering a vital and intimate look into the lives, struggles, and dreams of people  in Gaza.

First launched in 2023, "Window on Palestine" has become a cornerstone of the festival, providing an essential platform for Palestinian voices. The program's continuation reaffirms the GFF's commitment to supporting Palestinian cinema and ensuring these stories reach a global audience. These seven films, all documentaries, were produced through the Masharawi Fund for Films & Filmmakers in Gaza, with Coorigine Production (France). The films are in Arabic and will be screened in their original language with English subtitles.

The 'From Ground Zero+' initiative was conceived to empower filmmakers in Gaza to share their narratives through art. The project focuses on the daily lives, fears, dreams, and hopes of Gaza’s residents, providing a creative space for a new generation of artists to thrive despite immense challenges.

The seven films to be screened as part of the program are:

COLORS UNDER THE SKY (Reema Mahmoud)

A young artist, displaced by war, faces the great challenge of composing, singing, and recording her new song amidst the destruction.

DREAMS OF FARAH AND ZAHRA (Mostafa Al-Nabeeh)

In besieged Gaza, two young girls hold on to their dreams—one through her colors, the other through her voice—as a small act of defiance against a war that steals lives and hopes.

GAZA TO OSCAR (Alaa Damo)

Filmmakers in Gaza risk their lives to keep their people’s stories alive, transforming harsh reality into cinema that can reach the Oscars.

HASSAN ( Muhammad Al Sharif)

Trapped by starvation, a Palestinian teenager’s attempt to get a sack of flour leads to detention and a harrowing fifteen-month journey from north to south Gaza.

UNFINISHED STORIES (Nidal Damo)

A filmmaker drifts from one unfinished story to another, until war interrupts his journey and turns his own life into the final tale.

VERY SMALL DREAMS (I'timad Wishah)

Women in Gaza’s refugee camps struggle to maintain their dignity and health amid inhumane conditions, where even the simplest needs become a daily battle for survival.

THE WISH (Aws Al Banna)

After losing everything, a theatre director uses art to help others, transforming their wounds into a stage performance for healing and empowerment.

Marianne Khoury, Artistic Director of the festival, reflected on the program's significance: “Our commitment to the 'Window on Palestine' program is not just a curatorial choice; it is a fundamental part of our mission as a festival in the region. Cinema has a profound power to document and to heal, and it is our duty to provide a space where the world can witness the incredible resilience and artistry of the Palestinian people. This program is a testament to the fact that even in the darkest moments, art and human stories will persevere.”

Eminent Palestinian filmmaker Rashid Masharawi, who conceptualized the initiative and produced the films through his fund, commented on the importance of the program."Cinema saved us and was the only thing for us when the world failed us," said Masharawi. "These young filmmakers, working under unimaginable conditions, have managed to capture the essence of their humanity, their dreams, their pain, and their resilience. It is an honour to have these films have their world premiere at the El Gouna Film Festival, a platform that understands the power of cinema to connect, inform, and inspire. By screening these seven short documentaries, we are not just showing films; we are building bridges and proving that nobody can occupy cinema."

The "Window on Palestine" program, now a central and highly anticipated part of the GFF, remains a testament to the festival's belief in the power of film to promote dialogue and understanding, especially during challenging times.

About El Gouna Film Festival

One of the leading festivals in the MENA region, GFF aims to showcase a wide variety of films for a passionate and knowledgeable audience, while fostering better communication between cultures through the art of filmmaking. Its goal is to connect filmmakers from the region with their international counterparts in the spirit of cooperation and cultural exchange. The festival is committed to the discovery of new voices and strives to be a catalyst for the development of cinema in the Arab world.