Once Upon a Time in Gaza(HKAFF2025)

From Gaza-born twin filmmakers Tarzan and Arab Nasser comes a genre-bending tale where Hollywood meets harsh reality. In 2007 Gaza, as Israel declares the territory “hostile” and plans its isolation, timid student Yahya and charismatic falafel shop owner Osama craft an unlikely drug scheme, hiding pills in pita bread. Their small-time hustle becomes entangled with a corrupt cop's ambitions and, unexpectedly, the making of Gaza's first action movie. Through darkly comic twists and cinematic homages, the Nasser brothers weave a layered portrait of their homeland, where everyday hustlers navigate between survival and dreams, while political tensions loom over all. This self- reflexive drama explores how stories are told in a place where reality often surpasses fiction.

Best Director Award, Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film Festival