Once Upon a Time in Gaza Heads to Jordanian Cinemas
The Palestinian film Once Upon a Time in Gaza, directed by twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Nasser, is continuing its international journey with a theatrical release in Jordan.
The film will begin screening in Jordan on October 1, with screenings scheduled at several cinemas in Amman, including Rainbow Cinema, Prime Cinema at Abdali Mall, Taj Cinema at Taj Mall and Grand City Mall Cinema.
The Jordanian theatrical release follows the film's successful run through international festivals and comes after its recognition at major cinematic events around the world.
Jordan also has a special connection to the production, as the film was shot in the country as part of its international production process.
🏆 From Cannes to International Recognition
The film's international journey began with its world premiere at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in 2025, where it was selected for the prestigious Un Certain Regard section.
Arab and Tarzan Nasser won the section's Best Director award, marking another major achievement in their growing international career.
The film attracted attention for combining drama, dark comedy and crime elements while presenting a story rooted in Gaza.
Its Cannes success further established the Nasser brothers as distinctive Palestinian filmmakers capable of presenting local stories to an international audience.
🇵🇸 The Story: Gaza in 2007
The film is set in Gaza in 2007 and follows Yahya, a young student whose life changes after he meets Osama, a charismatic restaurant owner with a generous personality.
The two develop a friendship and begin selling drugs while using falafel deliveries as a cover. 🥙
Their plan, however, becomes increasingly dangerous when they encounter a corrupt police officer whose actions disrupt their lives.
The story gradually develops from an unconventional friendship into a tense confrontation involving crime, corruption, loyalty and survival.
🎭 A Blend of Drama, Crime and Dark Comedy
Once Upon a Time in Gaza does not fit neatly into one genre.
The film combines drama, dark comedy and crime, using humor and suspense to explore the lives of people attempting to survive in an environment where choices are often limited.
The relationship between Yahya and Osama provides the emotional center of the story, while the corrupt police officer introduces a growing sense of danger.
🎭 Through these characters, the filmmakers explore friendship, power, corruption and the desire to find opportunities under difficult circumstances.
🎬 The Cast and Creative Team
The film features Palestinian actors including Nader Abd Alhay, Majd Eid, Ramzi Maqdisi and Ishaq Elias.
Nader Abd Alhay plays Yahya, while Majd Eid portrays Osama, whose relationship with Yahya drives much of the story.
The film's visual language was created by cinematographer Christophe Graillot, while Sophie Reine handled the editing and acclaimed composer Amine Bouhafa created the music.
👬 Arab and Tarzan Nasser
Arab and Tarzan Nasser are Palestinian twin brothers born in Gaza in 1988.
They began their artistic careers in visual arts before moving into filmmaking.
Their short film Condom Lead was selected for Cannes in 2013, marking an early international milestone.
They later directed Dégradé in 2015 and Gaza Mon Amour in 2020, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
Once Upon a Time in Gaza is their third feature film and continues their focus on stories rooted in Gaza and Palestinian everyday life.
🌍 An International Co-Production
The film is an international co-production involving France, Palestine, Germany and Portugal, with additional production involvement from Qatar and Jordan.
Several international producers and production companies contributed to the project.
The film also received support from a number of European and international film funds, helping the production reach the international festival circuit.
📽️ The film was shot in Jordan, providing the production with locations and infrastructure needed to recreate Gaza in 2007.
🏅 Success at the Cairo International Film Festival
The film's success continued beyond Cannes.
At the Cairo International Film Festival, Once Upon a Time in Gaza received several major awards, including Best Arab Feature Film, Best Actor for Majd Eid and the Silver Pyramid for Best Director.
🏆 The Cairo recognition strengthened the film's position within the Arab cinematic landscape following its Cannes achievement.
The film subsequently appeared at numerous international festivals, expanding its audience and bringing further attention to Palestinian cinema.
🌟 More Than 30 Festivals Worldwide
The film has traveled extensively across the international festival circuit, screening at more than 30 festivals in over 20 countries.
Its festival journey has included events in Yerevan, Warsaw, Brussels and São Paulo, among other international destinations.
In 2026, the film continued to receive recognition, winning Best Feature Film at the 10th Critics Awards for Arab Films, adding another achievement to its growing festival record.
🇯🇴 The Jordanian Release
The Jordanian theatrical release represents another important stage in the film's journey.
For Jordanian audiences, the release has an additional connection because the country was involved in the film's production and provided locations for filming.
🎬 Moving from the festival circuit into commercial cinemas also gives a broader audience the opportunity to experience the film outside the specialized environment of international festivals.
🎞️ When Can Audiences Watch the Film?
Once Upon a Time in Gaza opens in Jordanian cinemas on October 1.
The announced venues include:
🎬 Rainbow Cinema – Amman
🎬 Prime Cinema – Abdali Mall – Amman
🎬 Taj Cinema – Taj Mall – Amman
🎬 Grand City Mall Cinema – Amman
The release marks a new chapter for a Palestinian film that has traveled from Gaza-inspired storytelling to Cannes, Cairo and dozens of international festivals.
✨ With its mix of drama, dark comedy, crime and human relationships, Once Upon a Time in Gaza continues the Nasser brothers' cinematic exploration of life, friendship and survival through stories rooted in Palestinian reality.
