EXCLUSIVE: Annemarie’s Jacir’s Palestine 36, which is Palestine’s official selection for Best International Feature at the 98th Academy Awards, will hold special one-daysneak-peek screenings across more than 50 cities in the United States and Canada on November 29.
The screenings are being held in commemoration of theInternational Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The movie is being distributed by Watermelon Pictures.
The paid screenings rep the first time that North American audiences, outside of any festival, can see the movie ahead of its early 2026 theatrical release. Participating cities includeNew York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, Minneapolis, New Orleans, Cincinnati, Portland, Columbus, Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, among others.
The movie is set against 1936 when Palestinian villages revolted against British colonial rule. Yusuf navigates between Jerusalem and his rural home, amidst escalating unrest and a pivotal moment for the British Empire. The pic stars Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbass, Jeremy Irons, Yasmine Al Massri, Liam Cunningham, Karim Daoud Anaya, Yafa Bakri, Billy Howle and Robert Aramayo.
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“We are honored to sharePalestine 36with audiences on a day globally dedicated to recognizing the rights, dignity, and lived experiences of the Palestinian people,” said the movie’s director and writerJacir. “We are so grateful to the theaters and audiences who are creating space for a story like this.”
Palestine 36 premiered at TIFF in September with reviews currently sitting at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes from 21 critics. The movie won the Grand Prix at the Tokyo International Film Festival earlier this month.
“We’re really excited to be able to share an early look at Palestine 36 with audiences across North America,” saidWatermelon Pictures EVP Justin DiPietro. “The response from theaters has been extraordinary, and we’re grateful to every venue and exhibitor joining us in marking this day by showing Annemarie’s extraordinary film.”