THE 22nd EDITION: RESISTANCE IN FOCUS

Cagliari | 18-22 February 2026

For over two decades, Al Ard Film Festival has served as a vital home for Palestinian cinema in the heart of the Mediterranean. As we enter our 22nd edition, the festival continues its mission: to provide a lens into the lives, struggles, and persistent dreams of the Palestinian people and the Arab world.

The XXII Edition, taking place at Teatro Massimo in Cagliari from 18 to 22 February 2026, arrives at a critical moment in history. This year’s selection is a testament to the power of the moving image as a form of witness, resistance, and cultural preservation. From the streets of Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, and Tunisia, to the complexities of the diasporas, our program features 24 works that challenge the status quo and offer alternative perspectives to the dominant narrative.

THE OFFICIAL SELECTION

FEATURE DOCUMENTARIES

• Aida Returns – Dir. Carol Mansour
• Aisha’s Story – Dir. Elizabeth Vibert & Chen Wang
• Al Awda – Dir. Jason Soo
• My Memory is Full of Ghosts – Dir. Anas Zawahri
• Shifa Hospital: A Story of Steadfastness – Dir. Ahmed Al-Aklouk
• Shrinking Space – Dir. Norma Nebot & Cristina Mora
• Strangled – Dir. Saida Hamad & Laura Menchaca Ruiz
• The Last Letter to Nasser – Dir. Fayza Harby Bemmann
• The Mission – Dir. Gaza Collective
• The Palestine Exception – Dir. Jan Haaken & Jennifer Ruth
• The Resilience of the Poppy – Dir. Mona Hammoud
• Walid Chmait: A Life at the Heart of Cinema – Dir. Selim Saab

SHORT DOCUMENTARIES

• Fragmented – Dir. Tanya Marar & Balolas Carvalho
• Free Words: A Poet From Gaza – Dir. Abdullah Harun Ilhan
• Les Chemins Bloqués – Dir. Atef Dhokkar
• The Silence They Taught Us – Dir. Paula Sahyoun
• What the Sand Remembers – Dir. Mahmoud Mohmed Abu Ghalwa

SHORT NON-DOCS

• Coyotes – Dir. Said Zagh
• Hind Under Siege – Dir. Naji Fawwaz Salameh
• Khaled And Nema – Dir. Sohail Dahdal
• Lullaby – Dir. Maria Saade
• Message – Dir. Saeed Moltaji
• Survival – Dir. Ahmed Ghassan Jaber & Ghaith Al Talli
• The Pump Agreement – Dir. Ahmad Alkhalil

BEYOND THE CINEMA

Al Ard Film Festival extends far beyond the screen. This year’s festival in Cagliari will feature a rich program of collateral events, including:

• Q&As: Engaging dialogues with international filmmakers.
• Live Music & Performance: Celebrating the sonic heritage of Palestine.
• Out-of-Competition Screenings: Special presentations and archival gems.

We invite you to join us in Sardinia this February to witness the stories that refuse to be erased.

Full program details will be released shortly.