It’s here – we are honored to announce our full program and launch early bird ticket sales for the 12th DC Palestinian Film and Arts Festival. As we approach two years of unrelenting genocide in Gaza, this year’s festival uncovers the layers of disruption that shape the experiences and threaten the livelihoods of Palestinians in Occupied Palestine and those in the diaspora witnessing it. It invites us to be a force for disruption, channeling unapologetic rage to demand a just future.

The festival kicks off on Thursday, October 9 at 6:30 PM ET with a live performance of TERROR COUNTER by DC-based Palestinian performance artist Fargo Nissim Tbakhi, artist Q&A, and opening night reception at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

For the rest of the weekend, we return to Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, where DCPFAF is proud to bring you one East Coast premiere, one US premiere and 16 DC Premieres: including the award-winning films Once Upon A Time In Gaza directed by Arab and Tarzan Nasser and Laila Abbas’ Thank You For Banking With Us, which a Director’s Q&A will follow.

We will also be hosting two short film blocks, one in collaboration with the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival that explores parallel struggles and the impacts of colonial violence from Palestine to East Asia to the diaspora. This year’s arts programming features a hands-on pickling workshop, led by our friends at Z&Z Manoushe Bakery, and a children’s storytime and crafts with Safa Suleiman, author of the children’s book Hilwa’s Gifts.

Check out our full program below, or visit our website, and get your early bird tickets today!

Opening Night, Thursday, October 9–Atlas Performing Arts Center

All other events, Friday, October 10, Saturday, October 11, Sunday, October 12–MLK Library Auditorium