Home / Arts and Entertainment / Red Sea Fest: Palestinian Film 'Playhouse' Wins Big
Red Sea Fest: Palestinian Film 'Playhouse' Wins Big
11 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Palestinian film 'Playhouse' won two major awards totaling $130,000.
- The film explores a Palestinian's secret life observing an Israeli family.
- Maha Haj's previous works have received accolades at Cannes and Locarno.
At the Red Sea Film Festival's industry event, Palestinian filmmaker Maha Haj's "Playhouse" clinched significant awards, earning a total of $130,000. The film centers on a young Palestinian observing an Israeli family from his ancestral home in Jaffa. This narrative explores themes of exile and silent resistance, using the contrast between a refugee camp and the occupied house.
Haj's directorial career is marked by critical success, with previous works like "Personal Affairs" premiering at Cannes and "Mediterranean Fever" winning at the same festival. Her short film "Upshot" also garnered awards at Locarno and Clermont-Ferrand, highlighting her consistent artistic output.
The Red Sea Souk actively supports emerging storytellers, with "Playhouse" being a prime example of a project receiving substantial backing. This year's festival also saw other supported films advancing to the main competition, demonstrating the Souk's commitment to fostering new talent in filmmaking.
