Egypt Champions Palestinian Cinema in Sweden

Egypt will take a leading role in celebrating and supporting Palestinian cinema this autumn, with renowned Egyptian cinematographer Kamal Abdel Aziz selected to chair the Feature Film Jury at the Palestinian Film Festival in Sweden.

The festival’s fourth edition will take place in Malmö city from 30 October to 1 November, at Panora Cinema, bringing Palestinian filmmaking to Swedish audiences while creating a space for cultural dialogue around Palestinian stories and perspectives.

Submissions open on 1 October and close on 7 November. For its fourth edition, the festival will provide Palestinian filmmakers a special FilmFreeway submission waiver, with particular consideration given to filmmakers from Gaza.

Abdel Aziz, one of Egypt’s prominent cinematographers, has worked on more than 40 feature films and on international documentary productions in the United States, Sweden, Denmark, and France. 

He has also served on juries at major film festivals across the region and internationally, including festivals in Carthage, Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Alexandria, and Ismailia, as well as the Pune International Film Festival in India and the Casablanca International Film Festival in Morocco.

The Feature Film Jury also brings together filmmakers and performers from Egypt, Sweden, Jordan, and Palestine, reflecting the festival’s commitment to diverse perspectives and professional expertise.

Joining Abdel Aziz are Swedish actress Josephine Iziaamo, Jordanian actor and director Salah Al-Hourani, and Palestinian filmmaker and novelist Fajr Yacoub.

Organized annually by the Palestinian Cultural Association in Malmö, the Palestinian Film Festival in Sweden has become an important cultural platform for presenting Palestinian cinema and strengthening dialogue between Palestinian filmmakers and audiences in Sweden.