Cairo filmfest to highlight Palestinian resilience with ‘Passing Dreams’

The 2024 Cairo International Film Festival in Egypt is to be using its 45th edition to amplify the Palestinian struggle, opening with ‘Passing Dreams’ by Palestinian director Rashid Masharawi.

This film captures the challenges Palestinians face and the unbreakable spirit of hope and perseverance that endures despite adversity.

Festival president Hussein Fahmy announced the opening lineup during a press conference at the Egyptian Opera House, where the festival will run from November 13 to 22.

Fahmy expressed pride in featuring a film that strongly represents the Palestinian experience and aligns with the festival’s mission of supporting Palestinian voices in cinema.

In a special celebration of Palestinian filmmaking, ‘Passing Dreams’ follows the journey of Sami, a young Palestinian boy on a quest to retrieve his carrier pigeon, symbolizing a human odyssey through the Green Line and weaving together stories of resistance and resilience.

The festival will also show a collection of short films titled ‘From Zero Distance’, produced in Gaza after the recent escalation of violence on October 7, 2023.

This collection includes films like ‘Out of Frame’, ‘Hell’s Paradise’, ‘Taxi and Nisa’, and ‘Awakening’, each depicting the harsh realities of daily life in Gaza.

Additionally, the festival’s program “Spotlight on Palestinian Cinema” will screen other notable works such as ‘The Age of the Gazelle’ by Saif Hamash, which explores a young man’s dreams amid the hardships of camp life; ‘Born Famous’ by Louay Awwad, a story of self-discovery away from familial pressures; and ‘Dreams of a Square Kilometer’ by Qassam Subaih, which highlights the daily struggles of Palestinians in Jenin.

This year’s Cairo Film Festival aims to not only celebrate Palestinian cinematic talent but also to draw global attention to the resilience and creativity of Palestinian filmmakers amid ongoing challenges.