Annemarie Jacir’s epic historical drama Palestine 36 took the Tokyo International Film Festival’s top prize, the Grand Prix/The Governor of Tokyo Award, at an awards ceremony in the Japanese capital on Wednesday.

In what has been a banner year for Palestinian cinema , and Palestine 36 in particular, the film adds the Tokyo prize after a rapturous reception at the Toronto Film Festival, including a lengthy standing ovation. The film was also selected as Palestine’s official entry for the best international feature category at the 2026 Academy Awards. Jacir’s film focuses on the 1936 Arab Revolt against British rule in Palestine , and examines the early roots of the Palestine-Israel conflict. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Hiam Abbass, Kamel El Basha, Yasmine

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