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Egypt Today
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Cannes winner ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA set for release across France
Fresh off winning the Best Director Award at Cannes, Tarzan and Arab Nasser's comedy-drama ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA is set to release in theaters across France this month, offering audiences a unique gripping narrative from the heart of Gaza. The screenings, which will be held in the presence of one-half of the director duo Arab Nasser, will be held on the following dates: Thursday, June 19th – Premiere in Marseille at Les Variétés Friday, June 20th – Premiere in Toulouse at American Cosmo Sunday, June 22nd– Premiere in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône at Utopia Stella Monday, June 23rd – Premiere in Paris at mk2 Gambetta Tuesday, June 24th – Premiere in Orléans Wednesday, June 25th – Premiere in Paris at Majestic Bastille Thursday, June 26th – Premiere in Saint-Denis at L'Ecra ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA explores the gripping story of Yahya, a young student who forges a friendship with Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a big heart. Together, they begin peddling drugs while delivering falafel sandwiches, but they are soon forced to grapple with a corrupt cop and his oversized ego. An international co-production between France, Palestine, Germany, and Portugal with Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the film boasts a stellar cast that includes Nader Abd Alhay, who is known for his role as Sami in FARAH, which is streaming now on Netflix; Ramzi Maqdisi (GHOST HUNTING, awarded Best Documentary at the Berlinale), Majd Eid (Cannes Winning title HOLY SPIDER); DOP Christophe Graillot (RIDE ABOVE) and editor Sophie Reine, who won the Best Editing Award at the César Awards for her work in THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Directed by the Nasser Brothers from a screenplay co-written with Amer Nasser and Marie Legrand, ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA is produced by Rani Massalha and Marie Legrand from Les Films du Tambour and Muriel Merlin of Lyly Productions. Additionally, the film was co-produced with Rise Studios (Amanda Turnbull and Ziad Srouji), Made in Palestine Project (Rashid Abdelhamid), Red Balloon Film (Dorothe Benemeier), Riva Filmproduktion (Mickael Eckelt and Lena Zimmerhackel), Ukbar Filmes (Pandora Da Cunha Telles and Pablo Iraola), and executive produced by Jordan Pioneers Multi Media & Slate Films Services (Khaled Haddad) in association with A. A. Films (Ahmed Amer), Cocoon Films (Sawsan Asfari), Radio e Televisao De Portugal, and Kometa (Edyta Janczak-Hiriart). Twin brothers Tarzan and Arab Nasser were born in Gaza in 1988. In 2013, their short film CONDOM LEAD was selected for the Main Competition at Cannes. Their first feature film, DÉGRADÉ, also premiered as part of Cannes' Critics' Week. Their second feature, GAZA MON AMOUR, premiered in the Horizons Program of the Venice International Film Festival and was Palestine's submission to the 2021 Academy Awards.
The National
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
‘This is the time of Gaza,' says Cannes-winning Palestinian director Arab Nasser
Once Upon a Time in Gaza director Arab Nasser tells The National why the world needs to see humanity
The National
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
‘This is the time of Gaza', says Cannes-winning Palestinian director Arab Nasser
Arab Nasser had a feeling that he may win a top prize at the Cannes Film Festival. But even so, he had considered skipping the ceremony. The Palestinian filmmaker's mother is in North Gaza, which is currently suffering a barrage of Israeli air strikes. On Thursday, after days of trying, he was able to speak to her. As happy as she was to see her son's face, as proud as she was of his latest achievements, she had tears in her eyes. Arab recounted the story on stage on Friday, as he accepted the Un Certain Regard award for best directors along with his brother Tarzan: 'My mother said, 'I'm not crying because of you. I'm looking now at the three kids of your sister. They are starving. Go to Cannes – tell them to stop the genocide.'' That is the urgency with which Arab accepted the award for his and his brother's latest film, Once Upon a Time in Gaza. It is the same urgency he's had since the day they decided to pursue the project. The world needs stories such as this, he believes, and this moment needs to be seen through the eyes of the Gazan people. 'This is the time of Gaza,' Arab Nasser tells The National. 'They need to show something about us. And we made a very human film – not a film about heroes – because the world needs to see our humanity. 'Of course, it's important for us as creatives to be in a festival such as Cannes. It's a dream of any director in the world. But as a Palestinian, it means something different.' As Arab suggests, there are new heroes in his latest film. It follows three men from 2007 to 2009 in the Gaza Strip, each struggling to endure the harsh circumstances created by the Israeli occupation. One is a young student named Yahya, taken under the wing of a charming drug dealer named Osama. Another is a corrupt cop named Abou Sami, whose feud with Osama turns deadly. But it is far from an ordinary crime story – instead a layered, self-reflexive meditation on identity, resistance and the cost of survival. 'These are people who are victims of occupation. And they accept unacceptable conditions because they have no other options and they cannot be judged for that. 'There are many things we are trying to say in this film. But if you ask me to name one thing, it's the humanity of Gaza. It's the daily life of two million people who have lived inside a cage since 2007. And nothing can justify what's happened to them.' Arab and Tarzan first gained international attention in 2010 with their poster series Gaza Wood, for which the two brothers turned the names of Israel's military operations in Gaza into fictional film posters. This is their third feature film after Degrade in 2015and Gaza Mon Amour in 2020. Both garnered international acclaim. The idea for Once Upon a Time in Gaza came to them in 2015. It was originally intended as an ode to the spaghetti Westerns and crime films that made them fall in love with cinema to begin with. After years of work, they finished the script on October 6, 2023. Once the war began the next day, they lost all motivation to continue the project. 'For a while, I lost my belief in the art of cinema. I don't want to have to justify my humanity to the world all the time, only for the world to reply with guilt, and nothing will change,' says Arab. 'But after five months, we were tired of waiting for bad news all the time. And we believed this was the perfect film to show the world what's happening in Gaza – what life was like before the war, the siege and the genocide.' Before October 7, funding for the film was already secured and a team was in place to bring the project to fruition. But when plans restarted, Arab and Tarzan found that many who had previously been committed were unwilling to continue. 'Most people quit the film,' says Arab. 'We got more partners, and then they quit. The money we'd secured started to disappear. It's a miracle we got this film made. But we succeeded because everyone – from the actors to the cinematographer to the editor – believed in this film. I would have sold my kidney to make it and so would they. That's why we succeeded – and that's why were able to bring this film to Cannes.' It wasn't just the crew that supported them – it was the Palestinian people. Filming took place in Palestinian camps in Jordan in mid-2024, and the community was integral from start to finish. Nader Abd Alhay, who plays Yahya, says: 'Ït wasn't easy to film at the Palestinian camp in Jordan, but the people there were working with us because they saw this movie as a statement for them. That's why they were helping. 'They were part of the movie on many levels, and they were welcoming us to do this movie because, by the end, they knew it was going to tell their story.' Unlike other Palestinian films, such as No Other Land, that aim entirely to educate Western audiences, Once Upon a Time in Gaza is a film equally for insiders and outsiders, referencing historical happenings once Hamas took power and dissecting complexities with nuance. 'But I'm not here to criticise the Gazan people,' Arab says. 'I'm telling you a story. Nobody has the legitimacy to criticise the Palestinian people. Nothing could justify what's happening now in Gaza. Nothing could excuse killing children.' Ultimately, while the film often takes a tone of black humour – even playing a clip of US President Donald Trump talking about turning Gaza into a tourist destination during the opening credits 'for a laugh', Arab explains – ultimately, its message is hopeful. Because even amid unthinkable devastation, the Palestinian people persevere. 'Right now, when we talk about Gaza, we have to talk about 'once upon a time' – because Israel has destroyed everything. But we will rebuild. Life will continue. Our people will stay in Gaza for all time.' As Arab's twin brother Tarzan said as they accepted the best directors prize: 'To every Palestinian, your life matters, your voice matters. Soon Palestinian will be free, inshallah.'
Egypt Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Egypt Today
Viva Palestine: ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA triumphs at Cannes with Best Director Award
Palestinian cinema celebrates a landmark achievement as Tarzan and Arab Nasser's comedy-drama ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA claims the prestigious Best Director award at Cannes' Un Certain Regard section, where it world premiered to resounding applause, captivating audiences and critics alike. Commenting on this triumph, Palestinian twin directors Tarzan and Arab Nasser expressed their gratitude for the recognition and the support they received all the way through. Following its world premiere, the film garnered widespread acclaim from critics worldwide, with Clotilde Chinnici (Loud and Clear Reviews) describing it as "Necessary and remarkable, ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA is a beautifully shot and politically significant film, especially relevant today." Meanwhile, Jonathan Romney (Screen Daily) praised its impact, stating, "This taut, succinct film should win widespread attention following its bow in Un Certain Regard." Also, Jordan Mintzer of The Hollywood Reporter described Once Upon a Time in Gaza as 'Small-scale yet broad in its implications, especially considering what's happened since October 7th,' highlighting how the film 'touchingly portrays characters doing their best in a place that grants them few options and even fewer opportunities.' This victory marks yet another milestone for the Nasser brothers at Cannes. Their short film CONDOM LEAD was selected for the Main Competition, while their debut feature DÉGRADÉ premiered at Cannes' Critics' Week. ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA is their second feature, following GAZA MON AMOUR, which world premiered in the Venice International Film Festival's Horizons Program and was Palestine's submission to the 2021 Academy Awards. ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA explores the gripping story of Yahya, a young student who forges a friendship with Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a big heart. Together, they begin peddling drugs while delivering falafel sandwiches, but they are soon forced to grapple with a corrupt cop and his oversized ego. An international co-production between France, Palestine, Germany, and Portugal with Qatar and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the film boasts a stellar cast that includes Nader Abd Alhay, who is known for his role as Sami in FARAH, which is streaming now on Netflix; Ramzi Maqdisi (GHOST HUNTING, awarded Best Documentary at the Berlinale), Majd Eid (Cannes Winning title HOLY SPIDER); DOP Christophe Graillot (RIDE ABOVE) and editor Sophie Reine, who won the Best Editing Award at the César Awards for her work in THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE. Directed by the Nasser Brothers from a screenplay co-written with Amer Nasser and Marie Legrand, ONCE UPON A TIME IN GAZA is produced by Rani Massalha and Marie Legrand from Les Films du Tambour and Muriel Merlin of Lyly Productions. Additionally, the film was co-produced with Rise Studios (Amanda Turnbull and Ziad Srouji), Made in Palestine Project (Rashid Abdelhamid), Red Balloon Film (Dorothe Benemeier), Riva Filmproduktion (Mickael Eckelt and Lena Zimmerhackel), Ukbar Filmes (Pandora Da Cunha Telles and Pablo Iraola), and executive produced by Jordan Pioneers Multi Media & Slate Films Services (Khaled Haddad) in association with A. A. Films (Ahmed Amer), Cocoon Films (Sawsan Asfari), Radio e Televisao De Portugal, and Kometa (Edyta Janczak-Hiriart). MAD Distribution manages the film's distribution and sales across the Arab world, The Party Film Sales oversees international sales, while Dulac Distribution handles the French distribution rights. Throughout its production phases, the film received support from prestigious institutions, including Aide aux Cinémas du Monde - CNC, Eurimages, Moin Film Fund Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Fundo CNC-Ica De Apoio A Coproducao Franco-Portuguesa, the Doha Film Institute, the Royal Film Commission's Jordan Film Fund, and Ciclic And Région Centre-Val De Loire.
The National
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
'Soon Palestine will be free': Gaza directors dedicate Cannes win to their country
Twin Palestinian directors Tarzan and Arab Nasser have dedicated their best director win to the people of Palestine, especially those living in their homeland of Gaza. The maverick filmmakers' crime thriller, Once Upon a Time in Gaza, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival's Un Certain Regard section on Monday. "To every Palestinian, your life matters, your voice matters. Soon Palestinian will be free, Insha'Allah," Tarzan Nasser said on stage on Friday. Receiving the award, announced a day before the main Palme d'Or, Arab Nasser recalled a conversation with their mother and how they hesitated to return to Cannes in the midst of the ongoing war. "She said, 'No, no, no, you have to go. You have to talk to them. Tell them to stop the genocide. We cannot carry on anymore'," he said. The twins, who have been living in Jordan since 2012, are regulars at the festival. Their previous work includes Condom Lead, the first-ever Palestinian short to compete at Cannes in 2013, as well as their 2015 debut feature Degrade and 2020's Gaza Mon Amour. Once Upon A Time in Gaza begins in 2007, the year Hamas took over Gaza, and follows drug dealer Yahya (Nader Abd Alhay), who pines for a better life outside Gaza. After an incident with a corrupt cop, the story fast-forwards to 2009, when Hamas has fully taken control, and Yahya is cast in a cheap-looking TV series commissioned by the group about a militant who died a hero in the fight against Israel. In his review of the film, The National's William Mullally called it "a layered, self-reflexive meditation on identity, resistance, and the cost of survival". The Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes recognises films with unusual styles and non-traditional stories. The decision to include a film set in Gaza in the Cannes Film Festival's official selection came at a particularly urgent time Arab Nasser said earlier in the week. Israel's military campaign has so far killed more than 50,000 Palestinians and devastated Gaza. "There is a need to give a platform to the voice of Palestine, the Palestinian story, the Gaza story, in an international festival like the Cannes Film Festival, with a wide audience from all over the world," he told Reuters. The film's name was meant to capture the rhythm of Gaza at a time where there is no stability or continuity, he said. "Now we refer to all of Gaza as 'once upon a time,' because Israel destroyed Gaza from north to south and has damaged all means of life," Nasser said. "All the memories, all the incidents that one has in one's memory of this place, have all vanished, Israel has destroyed it completely."
