Palestine 36

About the show

1936. As villages across Mandatory Palestine rise against British colonial rule, Yusuf drifts between his rural home and the restless energy of Jerusalem, longing for a future beyond the growing unrest. But history is relentless. With rising numbers of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe, and the Palestinian population uniting in the largest and longest uprising against Britain’s 30-year dominion, all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.

Palestine 36 plays as both human drama and historical reckoning: a big-cast, big-canvas film that tries to make the beginnings of the 1936–39 revolt legible through one young man’s movement between worlds.

The film stars Hiam Abbass, Kamel El Basha, Yasmine Al Massri, Jalal Altawil, Robert Aramayo and Saleh Bakri. The film had its world premiere in the Gala Presentations section of the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival on 5 September, to a 20 minute standing ovation. The film was Palestine's official submission for the Academy Awards.

P 36 is directed by Annemarie Jacir, who in 2007 shot the first feature film by a Palestinian woman director. Among it’s accolades it won the audience Award at Sau Paulo Film Festival, the Tokyo Grand Prix/Governor of Tokyo Award at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Snow Leopard Special Jury Prize at the Asian World film Festival.