Dissident Voices & Queer Palestinian Cinema was the fourth edition of PFFA, featuring an extensive program of films and talks on Queer Palestinian Cinema and films from Gaza. The 2024 PFFA was held across four days at Studio/K, LAB111, De Uitkijk, Kriterion and Ventilator Cinema. The programme included a range of parallel events, including poetry recitals, round table talks, artisan souks (arts and crafts bazaar), and an olive oil tasting session in collaboration with Fairtrade Palestine.
The festival launched with Mohamed Jabaly’s documentary Life is Beautiful (2023), followed by a Q&A with the Gazan director. This festival edition continued the tradition of highlighting women filmmakers with extensive shorts compilations and a curated programme by Canada-based artist and director Razan AlSalah. Queer and dissident voices dominated the 2024 edition, also honouring indigenous filmmakers in a retrospective entitled Solidarity with Turtle Island.
The Fashion Programme, a compilation of short films curated by Roberto Filippello for the Queer Cinema for Palestine project (to which the PFFA contributed), was followed by a round table discussion with Bashar Murad, a Palestinian musician and filmmaker with two films in the compilation, along with investigative journalist Charisa Chatoe, who made a short documentary about pinkwashing in Israel.
An Artist Talk featured three Palestinian artists from diverse geographical backgrounds, all of whom incorporated film in their work. Noor Abuarafeh, Yazan Khalili and Ahmad “Stateless” Mallah participated in a panel talk moderated by curator, art writer and researcher Dr. Nat Muller.
In 2024, the PFFA expanded into an international team and became a foundation. It has grown into a festival that highlights the vibrant diversity of indigenous storytelling, addresses historical challenges, and contributes to the growth of Palestinian cinema, bringing under-addressed topics to a global audience. Despite the continuing conflict, the PFFA has preserved its artistic vision and significance, remaining committed to its mission of celebrating Palestinian cinema.
The 2024 Palestinian Film Festival Amsterdam was made possible thanks to the AFK (Amsterdam Fund for the Arts), Cultuurfonds Noord-Holland, Voordekunst and Culture Ireland.
The PFFA is grateful to all generous donors who contributed to the 2024 voordekunst crowdfund: Amal Karam, Andre Smit, Nina Jurna, Anton Aleksandrov, Bruno Bottega, Dante Boon, David Hollanders, Eli Silvrants, Eliane Bots, Ethan Mark, Francien Lang, Hafsa Mahraoui, Hasmik Egian, I Ahlers, J A Rivera, Judith Couvee, Judyta Fibiger, Jure Merhar, Kelly Mostert, Kip Tjappings, Konstantin Koukias, Laila El Mehelmy, Linda Cooper, Manon Thomas, Marco De Stefanis, Megan Hoetger, Michiel Bot, Mies Koppelmans, Naïma El Moussati, Nat Muller, Nicola Terzaghi, Nicole Xavier, Orwa Nyrabia, Rasha Kashkoush, Rhodante Ahlers, Riham A, Samar Sukkar, Sami Simreen, Zelda Hall.
