Jerusalem
short film
festival

11.02-14.02. 2026

About

Cinema is a space for encounter and expression, one that extends beyond storytelling to open horizons for dialogue and reflection. At this festival, we bring together voices from Palestine, the Arab world, and international cinema, presenting short films that reflect creativity, strength of expression, and originality.

The launch of the first edition of the Jerusalem Short Film Festival marks an essential cultural step toward establishing a sustainable cinematic platform in the city, rooted in a deep belief in the importance of visual arts as a space for free expression, and in the ability of short films to reach diverse audiences and foster vibrant, multi-voiced cultural dialogue.

At Al Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art, we are proud to be part of this project and to work alongside our partners and supporters in transforming this initiative into an annual tradition that reflects Jerusalem as a dynamic cultural center of creativity and artistic life.

Palestinian Short Film

11.02.2026
6 PM

The Poem We Sang
The poem we sang is a 20-minute, colour and black and white, experimental documentary that meditates on love and longing, the love of one’s family and the longing for one’s home, contemplated through overcoming the trauma of loss of family home and of forced migration, transforming lifelong regrets into a healing journey of creative catharsis and bearing witness.
The miracle of Life
A Palestinian mother-to-be in the Netherlands grapples with emotional and physical challenges during pregnancy. Through intimate reflections, she confronts pain, uncertainty, fear of bodily changes, and an identity crisis, all while challenging societal norms around motherhood. Torn between her personal struggles and the devastation in Gaza, she feels guilt and shame, questioning her right to feel pain and wrestling with her privilege while others endure unimaginable suffering.
Land of Denied Rituals
“Land of Denied Rituals” is a short experimental film inspired by the death rituals once performed by Palestinian women, from songs to dances. I reinterpret and reappropriate these disappearing gestures and melodies through my body, transforming them in front of the camera. This work is an artistic attempt to revive endangered rituals through movement and embodiment, reclaiming collective grief as a space for expression and resistance, while presenting an untold strand of Palestinian heritage in a physical language that shifts between past and memory, presence and absence.
In the Waiting Room
The film unfolds in the waiting room of an Israeli hospital, where Hussein, a Palestinian from the occupied territories, accompanies his recently widowed mother, Rashida (70), to a medical appointment. As Hussein works on completing his academic research on his laptop, Rashida—who has not left her home for three months—attempts to communicate with those around her in her limited Hebrew, revealing quiet tensions of isolation, grief, and displacement.
FI ALWASAT
Nour attempts to make a kite with a child after hiding in their home during the raid on the city. Will Nour succeed in flying the kite in both timelines, taking the incident into another time in her memory?
CINEMA AL-AMAL
A nostalgic journey of reflection and rediscovery, where Mufeed revisits the abandoned cinema that was once full of life when he worked there forty years ago, reflecting on a lifetime spent bringing movies back to life.

International Short Film

12.02.2026
6 PM

Easy in, Easy out
In the streets of Ostia, a van, two men, and a victim. What seemed like a routine job will turn into an incredibly complex dilemma.
DEATH OF AN ACTOR
When a man learns that fake news regarding his own death is spreading like wildfire on social media, he’ll be forced to deal with the unintended consequences of this rumor.
The boy with white skin
Entrusted by his father to a group of gold-miners, an albino child embodies all of their hopes
The man who could not remain
In the middle of winter, a passenger train is stopped by paramilitary forces. As they arrest innocent civilians, only one man out of 500 dares to stand up to them. This is the true story of a man who could not remain silent.
Looking for notes that belong together
Writing a piece for an orchestra of cellos, body percussion, and the audience – this is the challenge that Fernando, conductor of the Violoncelles en Folie festival, set for Kalie, the composer-in-residence. Discover the creative process behind composing a work and its creation on stage with passionate musicians, blending classical music, infectious rhythms, and human adventures.

Arabic Short Film

13.02.2026
6 PM

A City Drowned With Details
On Dina’s final night in Damascus. She slips away at dawn with Sami. And as the city stirs awake, they share a quiet exchange, reflecting on their bond, the bittersweet memories of home. and how Damascus has shaped them. With the rising sun comes the pain of parting. Their farewell marks the end of an era and the uncertain beginning of separate paths, each still rooted in the city they love
A Lullaby
Nour, a young Palestinian woman, is pursuing her studies in Sweden. She wanders the streets of Stockholm realizing that she has lost something dear to her as she retraces her steps, reminiscing over the trauma of her past, the memories of her family, and a lullaby long since lost
Loop
Overwhelmed by the crushing weight of expectations and personal failures, a young woman turns to drugs as a desperate escape from her harsh reality. As her addiction deepens, the line between relief and ruin blurs, pushing her into the abyss. Even as she witnesses the painful consequences of her actions, hurting herself and those around her, she remains trapped in the same destructive loop
One last wish
Serine’s coaching skills are deeply influenced by her grandmother, Salma, who holds a special place in her heart despite the physical distance. When she receives distressing news of Salma’s illness, Serine embarks on a long journey to reunite with her. Upon arrival, she realizes that while understanding her grandmother’s wishes is tough, accomplishing them proves even more daunting.
What if They Bomb Here Tonight
Samir and Nadyn, a Lebanese couple, spend a sleepless night anxious and fearing an airstrike could shatter the glass walls of their home. With their children peacefully asleep, they battle with whether to flee or risk the worst and stay.

Children’s Short Film

14.02.2026
11 AM

The Night Tunnel
After digging a tunnel on the beach, two kids from different sides of the world meet each other. Together, they dig their way to the North Pole, where they discover a magical way to go back home.
On the 8th day
It took seven days to create the world, it only took one to disrupt its balance.
Filante
Every night, Paulette observes the same shooting star in the sky. She makes her deepest wish: to find her mysteriously missing pet rat. The days go by, but the animal doesn’t return. Paulette wants to understand what’s wrong with her star.
Hoofs on Skates
After digging a tunnel on the beach, two kids from different sides of the world meet each other. Together, they dig their way to the North Pole, where they discover a magical way to go back home.
The Legend of the Hummingbird
A fire breaks out in the Amazon rainforest, and the frightened animals leave their habitat to seek refuge on the other bank. Only a small hummingbird insists on fighting the fire when it spots a sloth and its baby trapped in the middle of the flames.
Mojappi – It’s mine
A mischievous trio named Mojappi lives in the forest and loves playing pranks. One day, after watching their friends make pancakes, they decide to use all their tricks to steal the pancakes for themselves—because, after all, they believe “it’s mine!”
Swing to the Moon
Living in the forest, little spider Temi dreams of catching the Moon. For that, she will do anything.

Talks & Workshops

12-13.02.2026

Open Talk with Director and Producer Muayad Alayan.
Short Films: The First Steps into Your Filmmaking Career
An open discussion with director and producer Muayad Alayan, focusing on short films as a starting point in a filmmaker’s professional journey. The talk explores idea development, artistic collaboration, submitting films to short film festivals, the role festivals play in supporting filmmakers, and strategies for promoting creative work through short films. Speaker’s Biography: Muayad Alayan is a Palestinian film director, cinematographer, and producer whose award-winning work has been screened at film festivals worldwide. He is a member of the ACE Producers Network and has served as a jury member for several international and regional film festivals and film funds.
Kanar Zaabi – Basic SFX Makeup Workshop
hands-on beginner workshop introducing the fundamentals of special effects makeup, with a focus on creating realistic wounds, bruises, and burn effects. Participants will explore professional SFX materials and learn how color, texture, and depth contribute to believable on-screen results through guided practical exercises. Advance registration required.
Artist’s Biography: Kanar Zaabi is a cinematic makeup and special effects artist based in Haifa. She specializes in prosthetics, character design, and special effects makeup for film, television, theatre, and advertising. Her work focuses on creating realistic wounds, bruises, and burn effects, and she has contributed to a number of feature film productions.