Saturday, April 18, 8:30 p.m. | Sami, aged 12, is obsessed with finding his elusive carrier pigeon across the Palestinian territories. Convinced that the bird has returned to its place of origin, Sami sets off on a journey that takes him from his refugee camp near the separation wall to Haifa. Along the way, he convinces his uncle and cousin to go with him, crosses the ‘green’ line, enters Jerusalem and meets other Palestinians. In the end, it doesn’t matter what the pigeon is, the journey brings hope and confidence, symbolized by the flight of the pigeon.
Preceded by:
THEY'RE NOT JUST SONGS
2025, dir. Hamza Amro, 6 min, Palestine, In Arabic with English subtitles
This short traces Palestinian musician Ahmad Eid’s journey from childhood melodies to global stages, as he struggles with exile, censorship, and war — turning music into a vessel of grief, memory, and defiance.
BORN A CELEBRITY
2024, dir. Luay Awwad, 13 min, Palestine, In Arabic with English subtitles
Feeling confined in his small Palestinian town and close-knit community, Kamel, a young man, embarks on a journey to discover his personal freedom and privacy.
GAZA BRIDE 17
2025, dir. Waseem Khair, 20 min, Palestine, UK, Estonia, In Arabic, English and Hebrew with English subtitles
A fisherman from Gaza is trapped in his haunting memories. After losing his only child, he suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder that leads him on a psychological journey, reliving his tragedy in a different reality.
Chicago Palestine Film Festival | April 11–25, 2026
Founded in 2001, the Chicago Palestine Film Festival (CPFF), a program of the Middle East Charitable and Cultural Society Inc., a non-profit organization, is an annual cultural event that serves as a vibrant platform for showcasing the rich and diverse narratives of Palestinian cinema. Film synopses provided by CPFF. Learn more at palestinefilmfest.com.
The Film Center is ADA accessible. This presentation will be projected without open captions. The theater is hearing-loop equipped. For accessibility requests, please email filmcenter@saic.edu