This diverse array of films were all submitted to the Festival by emerging Palestinian filmmakers. From the resolve to resist house demolitions, to the courageous risking of personal safety to document the realities of occupation, each story encapsulates a unique facet of sacrifice. Others delve into the everyday struggles of acquiring basic necessities, the grief of martyrdom, and the internal battles of self-acceptance. These films serve as powerful testimonies to the steadfast resilience and humanity of the Palestinian experience, shedding light on the multifaceted dimensions of sacrifice that define that reality. Through their artistry, these emerging filmmakers offer profound insights into the shared struggles and enduring spirit of a people determined to assert their dignity and rights in the face of injustice.
All films are subtitled in English.
Eitr عطر by Fateema Al-Hamaydeh Miller
Grinding away at the family business, Mohamed works tirelessly selling knock-off perfume, while living as a knock-off version of his true self. Eitr explores queerness in the context of Arab culture and family structure, leading into secret worlds that we build for ourselves and how we share them with others.
Shattered Memory ذاكرة مهشمة by Hayat Labban
The documentary honours the memory of photojournalist Mahfouz Abu Turk and explores the archive through which he documented the events he experienced in the city of Jerusalem and the West Bank from the first intifada in 1987 until the end of the 1990s.
Genre: Documentary, Archive | Year of Release: 2023 | Original Language: Arabic | Subtitles: English
زوايا by Mira Hajhassan
Siham and her goldfish, Tooteh, find themselves trapped in a half-empty house by an oppressive system that lives inside their walls and will soon begin demolishing them. As danger approaches, Siham uses her imagination to process her pain and resist the oppression.
Genre: Drama, Dystopian | Year of Release: 2023 | Original Language: Arabic | Subtitles: English
For You لأجلك by Mahmoud Hamdan
The film revolves around the friends of the martyr, paramedic, and dancer Sajid Muzahar, exploring their psychological state and emotions following his martyrdom. The film presents, in an experimental visual style, scenes from before, during, and after his martyrdom.
Does Not Exist ما في by Rami Ahmad
Yousef and his grandfather Saeed are Palestinian-Syrian refugees who fled from the Syrian war in Yarmouk to live in a Palestinian refugee camp in Lebanon, where Youssef struggles to keep his grandfather alive.
Falastin Film Festival (FFF) is a volunteer-run, not-for-profit collective of Palestinians and allies dedicated to bringing Palestinian art to Edinburgh and Highland audiences. Palestinians are often summed up as an ‘occupied people,’ and spoken for, though they have their own stories to tell. Using cinema as a tool of resistance the festival strives to decolonize the narrative and equip audiences with historical context. There is a desire to build community while celebrating Palestinian art and culture through cinema, music, cuisine, and other storytelling mediums. Scotland’s exposure to Palestinian society, art, culture, and humanity altogether remains rather limited. FFF hopes to fill this gap, using both classical and contemporary cinema primarily but not exclusively. They strive to highlight Palestinian steadfast resistance, cultural preservation, stories of love, and in the words of poet Rafeef Ziadah, teachings of life. In so doing, they offer a refreshing portrayal that encompasses the geographic, linguistic, and experiential diversity of the Palestinian people globally.
Visit their website falastinfilmfest.com or follow them on social media @falastinfilmfest.
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Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Follow us on Facebook and join the What's On Scotland Group!Loud Poets invite poets to share their work at their regular open mic, taking place monthly at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.
READ MOREThe exhibition by Jill de Fresnes is centred around filmed interviews with 12 Scottish women who worked as herring gutters from the 1920s through to the 1960s.
READ MOREThe TAM Sessions is an open and informal trad session, but with the lovely additional invitation to bring your sewing, knitting, crochet, or any other crafting project that you enjoy.
READ MOREJoin us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre for a unique event dedicated to World War One poet John McCrae and his poem In Flanders Fields, debuting a new interpretation of this iconic work!
READ MOREJoin Edinburgh's own Burgh Blatherers on Wednesday 12th November for the next open-floor storytelling night taking place throughout the year!
READ MOREPlease join us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Friday 14th November to celebrate Fair Saturday’s 2025 programme at their Opening Party!
READ MOREThis year’s Hamish Henderson Memorial Lecture at the Scottish Storytelling Centre is presented by David Francis and hosted by TRACS on Saturday 15th November.
READ MOREA Wheen o’ Wimmin present Singing Our Stories, featuring five celebrated Scots singers who’ve shared many a stage both great and small.
READ MOREJoin Hands Up for Trad on 18th November for an intimate celebration marking two decades of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, with David Francis and Louis DeCarlo!
READ MOREWelcome to the Scottish Storytelling Centre's Hearth Fire Sessions with Dougie Mackay, Alastair Blain, Chandra Mather & Tim Porteus on Thursday 20th November!
READ MORECatch Susanna Orr Holland, an experimental world folk singer-songwriter, at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on 21st November for the launch of her second album!
READ MORETo accompany the launch of Susanna Orr Holland’s new album Return of the Swallows, Chris Booth will offer a Work That Reconnects workshop.
READ MOREThrough storytelling, poetry and prose, four widely published Italian Scottish women writers will describe their diverse journeys of navigating, rooting and belonging.
READ MOREActor and writer Paul Case's nightmarish solo horror theatre piece explores the intersection of class, race and sexuality during the violent beginnings of Australian history.
READ MORECome along to the home of Scottish storytelling for a drop-in session of traditional tales with storytellers Mark Borthwick and Alice Fernbank on Saturday 29th November!
READ MOREHave you got what it takes to sit through the most tedious show ever and receive a certificate verifying your extraordinary willpower?
READ MOREFour of Scotland’s leading magicians come together for an evening like no other — minds will be read, laws of nature will be defied, and dad jokes will be told.
READ MOREBack by popular demand! Scotland’s favourite trickster is jingling all the way into the festive season with a brand-new magic and comedy spectacular.
READ MOREIn this exciting hands-on workshop, young people aged 12+ will explore the world of card magic — not just the techniques, but the theatre behind it.
READ MOREInsane Magic finally make their MagicFest debut, ending the year with a bang in a Christmas special packed with festive wonder, jaw-dropping illusions, and a sprinkle of fan-favourite classics!
READ MOREAfter a hugely successful 2025 Edinburgh Fringe run with five-star reviews, Jamie Leonard returns with his most exciting hour yet: Wonder Boy!
READ MOREJoin us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre for this world premiere performance of an enthralling new work, written and performed by Iddo Oberski!
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Gaumont Anniversary Special Event of the silent film Fantômas with live musical accompaniment is taking place at the Institut français d'Écosse on Sunday 9th November!
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Doves in Zero Gravity, screening at Institut français d'Écosse on 10th November, examines how lessons from the past can help to shape peace operations of the future.
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This is an understated film about economic migration, told in a straightforward and powerful style, a meditation on faith, connection and resilience in an increasingly fragmented world.
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Nina and the Hedgehog’s Secret is an exquisite and enchanting new animated feature, featuring the voice talents of beloved French cinema icons Audrey Tautou and Guillaume Canet.
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Borscht Film Club invites you to the UK premiere of Loss of Balance (Utrata równowagi), the electrifying debut feature by Polish director Korek Bojanowski, at Out of the Blue Drill Hall.
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Margarethe von Trotta’s Hannah Arendt is a powerful biopic about one of the most influential thinkers of the 20th century. Catch the screening at Institut français d'Ecosse on 18th November!
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A true Scottish surfing experience is arriving to Lost Shore with the screening of Cold Rush, a 2004 classic, on Wednesday 19th November.
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Queer East: On the Road 2025 takes place in Edinburgh from 19th - 26th November at Cameo Picturehouse. Expect a boundary pushing line-up of features that explore the ever-evolving queer landscape.
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IRON LADIS is the inspirational story of the iron-willed, working-class women who, during the 1984–85 Miners’ Strike, found themselves at the forefront of a battle against the British state.
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