Reel Palestine

Reel Palestine (Arabic: ريل فلسطين) is an annual non‑profit film festival held in Al Quoz, Dubai, UAE that showcases independent Palestinian cinema through curated screenings of feature films, documentaries, and shorts. Founded in 2015 by a volunteer collective in the UAE, the festival aims to amplify Palestinian cultural narratives through cinema and engage audiences in cross‑cultural dialogue. Each edition takes place at Cinema Akil in Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz, and often occurs during Quoz Arts Fest. Past editions have included pop‑up screenings in Sharjah and Abu Dhabi in collaboration with cultural institutions such as the Sharjah Art Foundation and Warehouse421.

Complementary events include filmmaker Q&A sessions, workshops, and the Reel Palestine Souk, which during the 2025 edition featured nearly 60 business stalls—from food and art to crafts—many sourced directly from Palestine or the UAE. In 2025, the festival launched its inaugural audience award at the end of the screening programme.

Reel Palestine is recognized for providing a platform to Palestinian filmmakers and stories that often fall outside mainstream distribution channels, fostering community around cinema and cultural exchange in the Gulf region.