By Sahar Dadjoo

‘When the world closes in, art becomes our only window to survive,’ says Ezzedine Shallah

Founder of Gaza Women’s Film Festival says blockade turned into a source of creative power

TEHRAN- Amid the devastation of war and displacement, Gaza has given birth to an extraordinary act of cultural resilience — the First Gaza International Women’s Film Festival. Founded by Ezzedine Shallah, a Palestinian filmmaker and researcher, the festival brings together 79 films from 28 countries, celebrating women’s voices through cinema even as bombs fall and cities crumble.