Securing Sustainable Support: The Future of the Cannes Palestine Pavilion
The organisers of the third Cannes Palestine Pavilion are actively seeking a sustainable funding mechanism to ensure its annual continuation. Co-organiser Salma Abu Ayyash aims to secure consistent and long-term support to avoid the yearly struggle for funding. The pavilion relies on international partners like the Scottish Documentary Institute, Durban FilmMart, Visions du Réel, the Iraqi Film Fund, and the International Emerging Film Talent Fund based in Athens. Led by Palestinian-American engineer and activist Abu Ayyash, filmmaker Mohanad Yaqubi, and producer Rashid Abdelhamid, the pavilion is organized by the Palestine Film Institute (PFI).
Abdelhamid highlighted the challenge of running the pavilion with volunteers at the PFI. Despite this, Abu Ayyash is optimistic about securing sustained support for the pavilion, emphasizing the strong relationships with institutions that value the Palestinian narrative. The pavilion has previously been held in 2018 and 2025, with a presence at the Algerian Pavilion in 2024. This year's program includes talks and project showcases until May 19.
One of the projects featured at the pavilion is Flavia Cappellini's Gaza Sunbirds, a documentary about a para-cycling team in Gaza. Yaqubi stressed the importance of educating Palestinian filmmakers on the business aspects of the industry to control the narrative effectively. Abu Ayyash reiterated the pavilion's mission of empowering Palestinian filmmakers to create, circulate, and sustain their work independently, ensuring narrative sovereignty and diverse voices.
Cannes' Palestinian representation this year includes Rakan Mayasi's film Yesterday The Eye Didn't Sleep in Un Certain Regard, alongside a delegation of approximately 40 filmmakers and producers supported by the PFI. The pavilion continues to serve as a platform for Palestinian filmmakers to engage with the industry and showcase their projects, fostering a future where Palestinian voices are heard and celebrated.