Reel Palestine (Arabic: ñÃÂàÃÂÃÂó÷ÃÂÃÂ) is an annual nonâÂÂprofit film festival held in Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE that showcases independent Palestinian cinema through curated screenings of feature films, documentaries, and shorts. Founded in 2015 by a volunteer collective in the UAE, the festival aims to amplify Palestinian cultural narratives through cinema and engage audiences in crossâÂÂcultural dialogue. Each edition takes place at Cinema Akil in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, and often occurs during Quoz Arts Fest. Past editions have included popâÂÂup screenings in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in collaboration with cultural institutions such as the Sharjah Art Foundation and Warehouse421.
Complementary events include filmmaker Q&A sessions, workshops, and the Reel Palestine Souk, which during the 2025 edition featured nearly 60 business stallsâÂÂfrom food and art to craftsâÂÂmany sourced directly from Palestine or the UAE. In 2025, the festival launched its inaugural audience award at the end of the screening programme.
Reel Palestine is recognized for providing a platform to Palestinian filmmakers and stories that often fall outside mainstream distribution channels, fostering community around cinema and cultural exchange in the Gulf region.
The festival showcases a diverse range of genres and themesâÂÂfrom experimental shorts and coming-of-age dramas to archival documentaries and diasporic storytelling. Its programming reflects the plurality of Palestinian identity and often explores topics such as displacement, memory, resistance, and everyday life under occupation.
Reel Palestine's primary venue is Cinema Akil in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, Dubai. The festival is also known for its traveling pop-ups across the UAE, including cities like Sharjah and Abu Dhabi, as well as collaborative events with institutions and cultural spaces in the Gulf region.
In addition to Cinema Akil, Reel Palestine has partnered with organizations such as Bristol, Palestine Film Foundation, Sharjah Art Foundation, and local arts foundations to facilitate educational and community-based initiatives.
Reel Palestine has been held annually since its inception in 2015, typically taking place each January/February, often coinciding with Quoz Art Fest, at Cinema Akil in Dubai. Each edition features a curated program of feature films, documentaries, shorts, and panel discussions centered on Palestinian life and storytelling.
In 2021, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reel Palestine launched the Home Edition, making a selection of its films available for streaming within the UAE. This pivot to digital access aimed to maintain audience engagement and broaden reach during a period of restricted public gatherings.
Each edition is accompanied by a Palestinian-inspired souq, featuring local and regional vendors offering crafts, books, food, and handmade goods that reflect the cultural heritage of Palestine.