The submission window for the 23rd edition of the Al Ard Film Festival officially closed on October 31, 2026.

To every director, producer, and team who shared their work with us: thank you. The response to our call for entries has been inspiring, reaffirming documentary cinema’s role as an indispensable medium for cultural preservation, historical testimony, and frontline reflection across Palestine and the broader Arab world.

The Selection Process Begins

Our programming committee has begun the in-depth work of viewing and evaluating entries across the four competitive tracks:

• Palestine Focus Feature Documentary

• Palestine Focus Short Documentary

• Arab World Feature Documentary

• Arab World Short Documentary

With our return to an exclusively non-fiction competition, the committee will evaluate entries competing for the five official festival prizes, including €5,000 in total cash awards. Concurrently, curation is underway for our special non-competitive showcase, bringing selected narrative, animated, and hybrid cinema to this year’s screens.

Key Upcoming Dates

• December 31, 2026 – Official Selection Announcement: Filmmakers will receive notification through FilmFreeway, and the official competition lineup will be published on our blog and channels.

• February 2027 – Full Festival Programme & Schedule: The complete schedule—including screening dates,special non-competitive showcases, panel discussions, and venue details—will be revealed in February 2027.

We extend our gratitude to the filmmaking community for trusting Al Ard Film Festival with your stories. Keep an eye on our blog and social media for updates as the 23rd edition takes shape.