Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir’s latest film, Palestine 36, has been selected to represent Palestine in the International Feature Film category at the 2026 Academy Awards.
The 1936 period drama follows the Arab revolt against British rule. Production was originally planned in the Palestinian territories but was relocated to Jordan after the October 7 massacre.
Jacir, 51, a Bethlehem native, lives and works between Ramallah and Jordan, and occasionally in Israel. She is known for politically charged films including Salt of This Sea (2008), When I Saw You (2012) and Wajib (2017), which were critical of Israel. Palestine 36 marks her most ambitious project, focusing on Palestinian resistance to the British mandate.
The film features Hollywood actors Jeremy Irons, Liam Cunningham (Game of Thrones) and Robert Aramayo (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), alongside Palestinian actors Saleh Bakri, Hiam Abbass, Yasmin Al Massri and Kamel El Basha. The production is a collaboration between Palestine, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
Palestine 36 will premiere at the upcoming Toronto International Film Festival. The 98th Academy Awards are scheduled for March 2026 in Los Angeles.
Israel’s entry for the International Feature Film category will be announced at the upcoming Ophir Awards, with films competing for Best Feature Film including The Sea, Oxygen, Yes, Nandori and Foreign Language.