Leeds to host over three weeks of Palestinian film and culture this Autumn: Festival dates announced
Leeds, UK – October 2025 – The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival is proud to announce its return for 2025, taking place from November 12 to December 6 at iconic venues across Leeds. Now in its 11th edition, the festival continues to celebrate the richness, diversity, and resilience of Palestinian culture through the lens of cinema.
This year, we’re bringing you over three transformative weeks of cinema that refuse to be silenced. Across 10 venues throughout Leeds – from Hyde Park Picture House to community spaces like Mill Hill Chapel, St Luke’s Cares, Heart in Headingley, All Hallows, St Chad’s, Otley Courthouse, Quaker Meeting House and the University of Leeds – we’ll showcase stories of resistance, resilience, and unbreakable spirit.
The festival, a staple in the Leeds cultural scene, aims to provide a platform for Palestinian voices and stories. This year’s programming promises to be as inspiring and thought- provoking as ever, with a focus on powerful narratives, a compelling mix of feature films, documentaries, shorts, and panel discussions, showcasing both emerging and established Palestinian voices.
The festival kicks off on Wednesday, November 12, at the Hyde Park Picture House with the
opening film, Yalla Parkour, in partnership with Leeds International Film Festival. The excitement continues with our main highlight event on Thursday, November 20, at the same venue, featuring the exclusive Leeds premiere of Palestine 36, Palestine’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars. Before the screening, witness our captivating programme trailer showcasing over 10 must-see films that will challenge, inspire, and move you.
A poignant but special highlight of the 2025 festival will be a series of new films made by Gazan women, as part of the inspiring Gaza International Festival for Women’s Cinema, designed to give a voice to their unique experiences.
Frances Bernstein, festival co-director, said: “While Palestine is regularly in the news, cinema offers us something deeper—the chance to truly understand the stories and connections behind the headlines. Our main highlight, the powerful new drama Palestine 36, provides compelling insights into historical events that continue to resonate today. “The festival is much more than a series of film screenings; it’s a vital space for community,discussion, and cultural exchange. We invite the people of Leeds to come and explore, discuss, and be inspired by this year’s incredible lineup.” Sir David Hare, playwright and screenwriter, said: “The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has always been an outstanding event, throwing brilliant light on how Palestinians manage to continue their lives in such unique circumstances. Obviously, in 2025, the festival is more necessary, more urgent and more important than ever.”
Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, said: “The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival is sadly more
important than ever, as we witness the horrific plight of the Palestinian people in both Gaza and the West Bank. I pay tribute to the organisers as it has helped raise awareness across our city and in fostering bonds of shared humanity—bonds that are essential in today’s world, which so desperately needs peace, justice, and hope for a better future.”
Wendy Cook, Head of Cinema, Hyde Park Picture House, said: “‘Cinema’ is too big a world for our little Picture House to hold or know in its entirety, so we are thankful for specialists like our friends at Leeds Palestinian Film Festival who help shine a light on powerful and important stories which could too easily go unseen.”
The full programme will be available online from Wednesday 15 October, along with information on where to buy tickets. Follow the festival on Facebook, YouTube andInstagram, or visit the website for the latest updates. /https://leedspff.org.uk/
