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Once Upon a Time in Gaza
a film by Tarzan & Arab Nasser
90 mins /

Comedy, Drama

France, Palestine, Germany, Portugal, Qatar, Jordan

In 2007 Gaza, a young student named Yahya forges a friendship with Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a big heart. Together, they begin peddling drugs while delivering falafel sandwiches, but they are soon forced to grapple with a corrupt cop and his oversized ego.

Cast


  • Nader Abd Alhay

  • Ramzi Maqdisi

  • Majd Eid

Crew


  • Scriptwriters: Tarzan and Arab Nasser, in collaboration with Amer Nasser and Marie Legrand

  • Cinematographer: Christophe Graillot

  • Editor: Sophie Reine

  • Sound: Tim Stephan, Rolan Vajs

Original Title: Once Upon a Time in Gaza
Production Company(ies):

Les Films du Tambour



Producer(s):

Rani Massalha, Marie Legrand, Muriel Merlin



  • Cannes Film Festival’s Un Certain Regard, France (World Premiere) 

  • Golden Apricot Yerevan International Film Festival, Armenia 

  • Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt (Arab World Premiere)

  • Warsaw International Film Festival, Poland 

  • Brussels International Film Festival, Belgium 

  • Athens Palestine Film Festival, Greece 

  • Melbourne International Film Festival, Australia 

  • Mill Valley Film Festival, US 

  • Sarajevo Film Festival

  • Toronto Palestine Film Festival, Canada (Opening film) 

  • Helsinki International Film Festival – Rakkautta & Anarkiaa, Finland 

  • London Palestine Film Festival, UK 

  • Thessaloniki International Film Festival, Greece 

  • Filmfest Hamburg, Germany 

  • IFFMH – Filmfestival Mannheim gGmbH, Germany 

  • Festival Internacional de Cine de Morelia, Mexico

  • Mostra - São Paulo International Film Festival, Brazil

  • Gijón/Xixón International Film Festival, Spain 

  • Rome Film Festival, Italy 

  • Arab Film Festival in San Francisco

  • DC Palestinian Film and Arts Festival, US 

  • Doha Film Festival, Qatar 

  • Marrakech International Film Festival, Morocco 

  • European Film Awards, Germany

  • Carthage International Film Festival, Tunisia


  • Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival, France 

  • Best Director, Best Actor for Majd Eid, Best Arab Feature Film, Cairo International Film Festival

  • Best Performance for Majd Eid and Nader Abd Alhay, Doha International Film Festival

Stills

Reviews

Necessary and remarkable, Once Upon a Time in Gaza is a beautifully shot and politically significant film, especially relevant today."
Clotilde Chinnici—Loud And Clear Reviews 
"Once Upon a Time in Gaza is a powerful ode to Palestinian resilience”. 
William Mulally-The National 
“This taut, succinct film should win widespread attention following its bow in Un Certain Regard”. 
Jonathan Romney—Screendaily  
“The film deftly weaves the ambient political tension into the characters’ lives.”
 Enzo Barese-Gazettely 
 
“Small-scale yet broad in its implications, especially considering what’s happened since October 7th, Once Upon a Time in Gaza touchingly portrays characters doing their best in a place that grants them few options and even fewer opportunities.” 
Jordan Mintzer-The Hollywood Reporter 
“They take full control of writing and directing duties to create a gripping and persuasive thriller that unfolds in the streets of Gaza City and remains captivating throughout.”
 
Meredith Taylor—Filmuforia
 
“Highly precise script work” 
 Fabien Leverrier-Cineuropa 
 
 “Necessary film” 
Gianluca Arnone-Cinematografo, Italy
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