“From Ground Zero,” the Palestinian contender for Best International Feature Film at the 97th Academy Awards, made its debut at prestigious film festivals including the 5th Amman International Film Festival and the 49th Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Additionally, it was showcased at the 28th Arab Film Festival during the same month.
Directed by Rashid Masharawi, a Gaza-born filmmaker who established the Masharawi Fund in November 2023 to support Gaza’s filmmakers, From Ground Zero marks the fund’s first project.
This anthology consists of 22 short films, each running between three and six minutes, and spans various genres such as documentary, drama, animation, and experimental video art.
The film serves as a platform for displaced artists to express their personal narratives in the face of the devastating effects of Israel’s ongoing assault, which has led to a severe humanitarian crisis and widespread trauma in Gaza.
In addition to From Ground Zero, 14 other films have made it to the Oscar 2025 shortlist for Best International Feature Film, including Emilia Pérez (France), I’m Still Here (Brazil), Universal Language (Canada), Waves (Czech Republic), The Girl with the Needle (Denmark), and The Seed of the Sacred Fig (Germany).
Other notable contenders are Touch (Iceland), Kneecap (Ireland), Vermiglio (Italy), Flow (Latvia), Armand (Norway), Dahomey (Senegal), How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (Thailand), and Santosh (United Kingdom).
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