The annual Chicago Palestine Film Festival, which is currently celebrating its 24th anniversary, gives audiences an opportunity to witness Palestinian stories of joy, community and identity.
“One of the things that we do is challenge the erasure of Palestinian stories told by Palestinians,” said Nina Shoman-Dajani, the festival’s Executive Director. “We believe in challenging the status quo narratives about Palestinians which are, many times, negative in the media.”
The festival aims to educate the Chicago community on the lived experiences of Palestinians from diverse backgrounds across the world–not only those living in Gaza.
“This is a space where people seeking to be around likeminded individuals can find comfort, and we’re happy that we’ve been able to provide that for our community at large,” Shoman-Dajani said.
Palestine’s diaspora numbers more than 14 million people globally, and Chicago is home to the largest population of Palestinians in the U.S., with an estimated 23,000 Palestinian-Americans living in Chicago’s metropolitan area.
Among the festival’s selections was “7 Day Out: Finale,” a documentary capturing the celebration of Chicago native Belal Muhammad’s UFC Welterweight Champion victory in Little Palestine, a vibrant community in Cook County’s Bridgeview area.
“I’m just so proud of the fact that he’s outspoken about Palestine, he’s always carrying the flag; he’s using his platform for good,” said Amyra Muhammad, Belal Muhammad’s sister, who attended an April 16 film festival screening at the Gene Siskel Film Center.
The short film, directed by Will Harris, features interviews with Little Palestine community members and fans, as well as footage of Muhammad’s family life and conversations with his competitors.
Amyra Muhammad says she hopes festival attendees will be inspired to learn more about the Palestinian communities around them and engage with them across cultures.
“We are your neighbors, your doctors, we are your business owners–we are your UFC fighters,” Muhammad said. “We’re everywhere, so talk to us and get to know us–we are not full of hate like the mainstream media will tell you.”
Media bias in the U.S. is especially high when it comes to reporting on Palestine–just look at recent studies analyzing word choice in articles and the disproportionately low number of Palestinian guests interviewed in broadcast reporting.
Problematic journalistic coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza represents a major challenge in the media, but another challenge also persists: the reduction of Palestinian identity to a single narrative.
The festival’s emphasis on intercultural exchange is echoed by Shoman-Dajani, who says that on all levels of producing the event, diversity is central. The event’s small-but-mighty team of volunteers is made up of 18 core members from diverse backgrounds, and audiences of all ages, backgrounds and interests are welcome.
“We have an audience and a film selection that reflects multigenerational experiences,” Shoman-Dajani said. “You see filmmakers making films that are specially geared towards the experiences of children, documenting their parents or grandparents, and we have animated films and narratives and a wide range of documentaries.”
While most 2025 screenings are sold out, the Chicago Palestine Film Festival offers opportunities for engagement with the event series through volunteering, submitting films and collaborating with the organization through partnerships.