Kolkata film festival celebrates the voices of resilience with 3 screenings of Palestine 36

Cinema lovers attended the screenings of many films at the ceremony, which was more of an act of solidarity than a celebration of cinema. Palestine 36 At the 31st Kolkata International Film Festival on Thursday.

Palestine’s official participation in the 2026 Academy Awards in the International Feature Film category, Palestine 36 Three screenings were held at the festival, which started on November 6 and ended on Thursday.

Directed by Annemarie Jacir, the historical drama about the 1936-1939 uprising against British colonial rule in Palestine explores how the lives of Palestinians changed profoundly as Jewish settlers began to arrive on their shores.

Despite being set in history, the film has struck a chord with film moguls, who think it draws parallels between British repression and the ongoing crisis in Gaza during Israeli offensives.

“These films help humanize what mainstream media often dehumanises. They allow audiences to see Palestinians not just as victims of violence or wrongly viewed as terrorists, but as people with dreams, aspirations, humour, culture and resilience. Showing such films internationally ensures that the debate about Palestine is not abstract or distant, but continues. And it ensures that it remains personal, urgent and deeply human.” MehronAbu Sohel Khondekar, who attended the screening, said: Hindu.

“I’m not a film critic, but I came to see this movie to celebrate the voices of Palestine. I know it’s 1936, but I don’t think the reality has changed even today. I think it’s gotten worse. It helped me understand the situation better,” said one audience member.

Another Palestinian movie Songe (Past Dreams) Director Rashid Masharawi’s film, which deals with the theme of displacement and migration, was screened twice at the festival.