Netflix announced the release of a collection of 32 films entitled "Palestinian Stories" on 14 October, produced by Palestinian filmmakers or based on Palestinian stories, to be shown to subscribers around the world.

The special series includes award-winning films, including “A Man Returned” by Palestinian-Danish director Mahdi Fleifel, “Like 20 Impossibles” by Palestinian director Annemarie Jacir, and “The Crossing” ) Palestinian producer and director Mai Odeh.

The network is scheduled to add more films, over the next few weeks, to the collection that includes the works of eminent directors who have won critical acclaim, such as Mai Masri, Suzan Youssef, Farah Nabulsi, and many others.

Honoring Arab cinema

According to a statement from Netflix, Palestinian Stories is a tribute to the creativity and passion of the Arab film industry, as the network continues to invest in stories from the Arab world.

Commenting, May Odeh, producer of "Al Obour", which was produced in 2017, said, "I am finally happy to see Palestinian films available to a large audience through Netflix. We all in the Palestinian film industry are keen to share our narrative with the world through our original creative productions, as an alternative to news reports."

"I cannot thank the Netflix team enough for their efforts to make this happen," she said.

The "Palestinian Stories" collection is on its way to you on the 14th of October!

The special collection that will contain 32 films such as "The Return of a Man", "Maradona's Igrin" and "The Laboratory" will be shown around the world!

pic.twitter.com/dGRnIbtyVY

— Netflix MENA (@NetflixMENA) October 12, 2021

Director Fleifel also expressed his enthusiasm to include his work in the group and deliver it to the global audience, and said, "Finally, a larger audience can get this exceptional opportunity to avoid all social obligations and watch my films in one sitting. Thank you, Netflix, for this great privilege."

It is reported that Fleifel's films include "A Drowning Man", "Xeno", and "A World Not Ours".

global window

The collection contains different types of films, to showcase the depth and diversity of the Palestinian experience, and to explore Palestinian lives, dreams, families, friendships and romantic relationships.

Noha El-Tayeb, director of content for Netflix in the Middle East and North Africa, confirmed its keen interest in diversifying content on the network, which seeks to become the home of Arab cinema, and a platform for anyone around the world to learn about distinguished Arab stories that deal with core human themes.

She expressed her hope that Palestinian Stories will bring these wonderful tales to a global audience, as she believes that “great stories must be traveled beyond their country of origin, told in different languages ​​and enjoyed by people from all walks of life, that is the true beauty of telling stories".

International Awards

The collection includes a number of films that have been nominated and won prestigious international awards, including “As If We Are Twenty Impossibles” (2003), the first short film from the Arab world to be shown for the first time at the Cannes Film Festival in France, and it was a finalist in the Oscars, as well as Won the Best Film Award at several festivals, including the Palm Springs International Film Festival and the Chicago International Film Festival.

Palestinian filmmaker Elia Suleiman won two awards and a nomination at the Cannes Film Festival for his 2002 film "Divine Intervention", in which he honors his hometown of Nazareth.

The film "3000 Nights", produced in 2015 by Egyptian director, won the Jury Prize at the 2016 International Film Festival and the Human Rights Forum.

Also included in the group was the 2015 short film "Peace be upon you, Mary," by Palestinian-British director Basil Khalil, which was nominated for an Academy Award and the Palme d'Or at Cannes.

Ave Maria (2015) short, comedy pic.twitter.com/uwd1GjMQ7g

— Suki Bellati (@SukiBellati) January 23, 2019

Some films are already showing on Netflix, such as “Present,” “Pomegranate and Myrrh,” “It Must be Heaven” and will now join the “Palestinian Stories” group, making it easier for members to Find premium content from the Arab world in one place.