Mark Ruffalo, Diego Luna, Susan Sarandon, and Riz Ahmed Support Philistine Films and Watermelon Pictures in ‘Talking Palestine 36’ Season
Stars Align to Support ‘Talking Palestine 36’ Series
Several prominent figures from the film industry, including Mark Ruffalo, Diego Luna, Susan Sarandon, Riz Ahmed, Ava Duvernay, Mira Nair, Julie Delpy, and Ramy Youssef, are backing a new initiative inspired by Annemarie Jacir’s film Palestine 36. This series aims to promote nuanced discussions about Palestinian history and culture.
Titled ‘Talking Palestine 36’, the initiative is a collaboration between Philistine Films, co-founded by Jacir and Ossama Bawardi, and Watermelon Pictures, the film’s U.S. distributors.
Palestine 36 serves as Palestine’s official entry for the 98th Academy Awards and delves into the historical context of the 1936-39 Arab Revolt, during which Palestinians protested British colonial rule.
“We created this series to open space for deeper, nuanced conversation about Palestine and its history,” Bawardi stated. “Palestine 36 is not just a film – it is a cultural moment. These talks aim to broaden that moment into a sustained dialogue.”
The ‘Talking Palestine 36’ series will be accessible in various cities and online, coinciding with the film’s global theatrical release. Additional guests and event dates are set to be announced.
The series will include conversations, panels, and appearances by Jacir and other artists dedicated to human rights and social equity. Each session will explore different aspects of Palestine 36, from creative expression under constraint to cinema’s role in documenting Palestinian experiences, while also addressing the foundations of Palestinian resistance against occupation.
Palestine 36 features a cast that includes Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbass, Jeremy Irons, Yasmine Al Massri, Liam Cunningham, Karim Daoud Anaya, Yafa Bakri, Billy Howle, Robert Aramayo, and several emerging talents from Palestine and the diaspora.
Since its world premiere in September, Palestine 36 has garnered significant acclaim, winning the Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival, the Audience Award at the São Paulo International Film Festival, and the Special Jury Prize at the Asian World Film Festival. The film made its official MENA debut at the Red Sea Film Festival in Saudi Arabia on Monday evening.
