Jerusalem, Palestine – July 21, 2026 – The Munib & Angela Masri Foundation continues its support for Palestine’s cultural sector through its sponsorship of the sixth edition of the Jerusalem Arab Film Festival (JAFF). The Foundation’s continued partnership reflects its commitment to strengthening Jerusalem’s role as a vibrant center of culture and creativity while supporting initiatives that reinforce Palestinian cultural identity and promote engagement with Arab cinema.
Held under the theme “Life Lives On,” the festival’s sixth edition will take place from July 28 to August 2, 2026, bringing together a distinguished selection of Arab feature, documentary, and short films that showcase the diversity of contemporary Arab cinema and the richness of creative voices from across the region.
The festival’s official competition includes seven feature-length narrative films produced through Arab-European co-productions, six feature-length documentary films, and three Palestinian short films. It also features 18 short films from Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Algeria, and Lebanon competing in the official short film competition.
This year’s edition also presents a special program dedicated to Sudanese cinema, featuring six restored archival films that celebrate Sudan’s cinematic heritage while highlighting the importance of preserving it for future generations. Films competing across the festival’s three official categories, Feature Narrative, Feature Documentary, and Short Film, will be eligible for cash awards presented by specialized juries comprising distinguished Arab filmmakers and film critics.
Beyond the screenings, the festival offers a comprehensive cultural and educational program featuring specialized workshops and accompanying events. Highlights include the workshop “Women, Fabric, and Cinema: The Visual Memory of Palestinian Women,” led by Ghadeer Najjar. The workshop explores the relationship between cinema, personal memory, and clothing as a visual language that expresses identity and history through feminist and humanistic perspectives. The program also includes professional workshops and networking sessions that encourage dialogue and foster the exchange of knowledge between filmmakers and audiences.
The Munib & Angela Masri Foundation’s sponsorship of the festival for the sixth consecutive year reflects its belief in the vital role of culture and the arts in strengthening national identity, amplifying the Palestinian narrative, and supporting cultural life in Jerusalem. It also reinforces Jerusalem’s enduring role as a center of creativity and intellectual exchange despite the challenges it continues to face.
