At the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where glamour and cinema converge on a global scale, the

Palestine Film Institute

(PFI) is making a different kind of impact—one rooted in resilience, remembrance, and representation. While the official festival jury remained largely tight-lipped during its first press conference about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, the PFI has carved out a vital space within the Marché du Film to amplify Palestinian stories and call for solidarity.Silent jury, strong voicesDuring the festival’s opening media interaction, a question about Cannes’ perceived neutrality on the Gaza crisis drew an uncomfortable silence from the jury, including president Juliette Binoche. Initially distancing herself from an open letter signed by over 350 filmmakers—including stars like Richard Gere and Javier Bardem—Binoche offered a cryptic comment but later, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, joined the list of signatories along with Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal.The letter criticized the festival’s lack of vocal support regarding the humanitarian crisis in which over 50,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives since October 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The Palestinian pavilion: presence, not celebration

On the sidelines of the official festival, the PFI’s presence at the international village is anything but celebratory. “We’re not here to party,” says Mohanad Yaqubi, the institute’s public programmer, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. “Some of us have families in Gaza. It’s painful. But this industry can’t be a playground only for the privileged. We’re here to make room for our stories.”The PFI’s 2025 program, under the banner HereThereAndForever, is their most ambitious since their debut at Cannes in 2018. It features panel discussions, producer spotlights, and screenings. One notable highlight is the project From Ground Zero, an anthology featuring short documentaries and feature films from 22 Palestinian filmmakers depicting life amid Gaza’s rubble and chaos.Building futures with the PFI Film FundThis year also marks the official launch of the PFI Film Fund, a collaborative initiative with the IDFA Bertha Fund, International Media Support, and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture. The fund aims to support four to six projects across various formats in its early phase, giving Palestinian creators foundational resources to tell their stories.A poignant moment in their pavilion is the exhibition by late Palestinian photojournalist Fatma Hassouna, who was killed in an Israeli strike earlier this year. Her work and life are also part of the documentary Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, which premieres at Cannes.Staying visible, pushing boundariesDespite limited institutional backing, Yaqubi acknowledges the solidarity of individuals within the festival’s ecosystem. “The official stance may reflect broader French geopolitics, but many people working here truly support us,” he says.The PFI’s work at Cannes is supported mainly by donations and aims to spark real change—not just on-screen visibility. “We’re here to stay, year after year,” Yaqubi adds. “Being absent won’t change the narrative, but being present might.”In a space often dominated by prestige and privilege, the Palestine Film Institute is quietly but powerfully asserting that film is also about truth, survival, and the right to be seen.