Hot on the heels of yesterday’s announcement of this weekend’s celebration of “militant Palestinian Cinema” at the city’s Hyde Park Picture House, The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the line up for its return for 2025,.
This year’s 11th edition of the festival takes place from November 12 to December 6 at various venues across Leeds and continues to celebrate the richness, diversity, and resilience of Palestinian culture through the lens of cinema.
The festival is taking over 10 venues – from Hyde Park Picture House to community spaces like Mill Hill Chapel, St Luke’s Cares, Heart in Headingley, All Hallows, St Chad’s, Otley Courthouse, Quaker Meeting House and the University of Leeds – and will showcase stories of resistance, resilience, and unbreakable spirit.
The festival, a staple in the Leeds cultural scene, aims to provide a platform for Palestinian voices and stories. This year’s programming promises to be as inspiring and thought-provoking as ever, with a focus on powerful narratives, a compelling mix of feature films, documentaries, shorts, and panel discussions, showcasing both emerging and established Palestinian voices.
The festival kicks off on Wednesday, November 12, at the Hyde Park Picture House with the opening film, Yalla Parkour (pictured), in partnership with Leeds International Film Festival. On Thursday, November 20, at the same venue, the highlight is the exclusive Leeds premiere of Palestine 36, Palestine’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars. Before the screening, the festival will showcase a captivating programme trailer showcasing “must-see films that will challenge, inspire, and move you.”
A poignant but special highlight of the 2025 festival will be a series of new films made by Gazan women, as part of the inspiring Gaza International Festival for Women’s Cinema, designed to give a voice to their unique experiences.
Frances Bernstein, festival co-director, said: “While Palestine is regularly in the news, cinema offers us something deeper—the chance to truly understand the stories and connections behind the headlines. Our main highlight, the powerful new drama Palestine 36, provides compelling insights into historical events that continue to resonate today. The festival is much more than a series of film screenings; it’s a vital space for community, discussion, and cultural exchange. We invite the people of Leeds to come and explore, discuss, and be inspired by this year’s incredible lineup.”
Sir David Hare, BAFTA-winning playwright and screenwriter, said: “The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has always been an outstanding event, throwing brilliant light on how Palestinians manage to continue their lives in such unique circumstances. Obviously, in 2025, the festival is more necessary, more urgent and more important than ever.”
Wendy Cook, head of cinema, Hyde Park Picture House, added: “‘Cinema’ is too big a world for our little Picture House to hold or know in its entirety, so we are thankful for specialists like our friends at Leeds Palestinian Film Festival who help shine a light on powerful and important stories which could too easily go unseen.”
The full programme is available online now, along with information on how to buy tickets.
