Toronto Palestine Film Festival

Toronto - The Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF) officially released its much anticipated program today.

From September 30-October 7, 2011, TPFF will screen 24 films by Palestinian and international filmmakers. The festival will debut 11 Canadian premieres, 9 North American premieres and 3 Toronto premieres. “The stories of women feature prominently in this year’s selection of films,” stated festival programmer Dania Majid.

The festival opens with the Toronto premiere of the much-acclaimed Pomegranates and Myhrr, the debut feature film by Najwa Najjar (trailer). This beautifully shot film is set in Ramallah and tells the story of a dancer, Kamar, whose wedded bliss ends abruptly when her husband is arrested for trying to stop the confiscation of his family’s olive grove. Kamar defies societal expectations for the wife of a prisoner and returns to dance to cope with her family’s legal challenges.

To complement its week-long program, TPFF has planned several special programs including the return of the very popular Sahtain! Traditional Palestinian Brunch, as well as introducing an art show, and the Arab World Perspectives program to this year’s line-up. “TPFF strives to continuously evolve and engage our audiences with new and exciting experiences,” explained Majid.

Tickets and TPFF 10 Pass are on sale online and at the TIFF Bell Lightbox’s box office. To see the complete TPFF program or to purchase tickets please visit http://tpff.ca/festival-program/.

Mark Your Calendars: The 4th annual TPFF is taking place September 30-October 7, 2011. Established in 2008, TPFF celebrates film as an art form and means of expression by showcasing the vibrant heritage, resilience, and narratives of the Palestinian people.