Our ever-popular programme of short films returns to the Cube this year with an offering of five new films.

The Flowers Stand Silently, Witnessing
Dir. Theo Panagopoulos
⌚ 17 mins

When a Palestinian filmmaker based in Scotland unearths a rarely-seen Scottish film archive of Palestinian wild flowers, he decides to reclaim the footage. This tender film essay questions the role of image-making as a tool of both testimony and violence when connected to entanglements between people and the land.

10 Minutes Younger
Dir. Nisreen Yaseen
⌚ 10 mins

Julie and Waleed, two kids on the cusp of their teenage years, escape the pressures of societal and political noise in Palestine, embarking on a brief adventure in nature that will linger in their memories like a dream.

Khaled and Nema
Dir. Sohail Dahdal
⌚ 18 mins

Khaled, a 10-year-old Bedouin boy, and his trusted goat Nema embark on a mission to bring Abu Mariam’s memory back. Abu Mariam who lost his memory to Alzheimer's is the only one with the power to save their village from demolition by the Israeli army. Will Khaled help him get his memory back in time to save the village?

The Miracle of Life
Dir. Sabrine Khoury
⌚ 8 mins

The film follows the emotional and physical journey of a Palestinian mother-to-be in the Netherlands. Through intimate reflections, she confronts pain, uncertainty, fear of bodily changes, and an identity crisis, Set against the backdrop of the Gaza war, her continuous questioning adds depth to her journey.

Upshot
Dir. Maha Haj
⌚ 34 mins

Suleiman and Mona are a couple who lead a solitary life in which they care for animals and trees and have constant heated discussions about their children’s life choices. However, one day, their routine is disturbed when a stranger shows up, calling to mind a painful past. A beautiful return to the screen by the director of Mediterranean Fever (BPFF 2022).

Donations:

All donations from this year’s festival will go to Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS), providing humanitarian assistance as well as health and social services to Palestinians whenever and wherever needed. https://www.palestinercs.org/

Entry requirements: 18+, any under 18s accompanied by 21+ adult 1:1 ratio

Part of Bristol Palestine Film Festival 2025.
See the full festival programme here: https://bristolpff.org.uk