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Palestinian Drama Chentian Wins Nordic Award and Secures Backers Ahead of Madrid Pitch
A Palestinian feature film, Chentian, has earned a coveted Nordic prize and a roster of early investors, setting the stage for a co‑production pitch at the ECAM Forum in Madrid on June 10.
The 90‑minute drama, written and directed by Suha Arraf, is being produced by May Odeh’s Odeh Films in Palestine and Germany’s Mayana Films, the latter co‑founded with Zorana Mušikić. German producer Lena Zimmerhackel is also on board, and the Arab Cultural Fund has pledged support.
Backers began to line up in early May when the project was announced by Odeh Films. Variety reported that Rina Khoury of Arab Media Network’s Abu‑Lughod Studios in Jordan has joined the list of early financiers. Khoury’s involvement follows a string of regional productions and a track record of expanding Arabic media content.
Chentian took home the €35,000 (US$41,650) Tin Post‑Production Award at the 2026 Göteborg Film Festival Nordic Film Market. The prize, given to projects that show strong post‑production potential, was announced in a Variety article dated May 24. The award will help the film attract co‑producers, sales agents, and festival programmers at the upcoming ECAM Forum.
The story is set in an isolated Palestinian farming village inside Israel. It follows two sisters‑in‑law, Nabila and Shams, who are bound by an exchange marriage to two brothers. After Nabila’s husband dies in a tractor accident, she finds herself trapped in the same household as Shams and her husband Walid. As Israeli authorities begin confiscating the village’s land, personal tensions erupt. Arraf describes the film as a feminist and political exploration of the relationship between women’s bodies and the land.
"There can be no liberation of Palestine without the liberation of women," Arraf told Variety. "The female protagonists are raised to believe they lack strength, but ultimately discover their power."
Arraf’s own upbringing informs the setting. She grew up in a Galilean village near the Lebanese border, in the Israeli town of Mi’ilya, and worked in tobacco farming to pay for university. She has spoken about the importance of land for Palestinians, noting that much of her village’s land was confiscated for military and settlement purposes.
Production is still in the financing stage, and locations, cast and crew have not yet been finalized. Arraf expressed confidence in Odeh’s ability to secure the necessary resources, citing Odeh’s track record and commitment to women‑led projects.
Odeh, who received the Variety MENA Talent Award in 2000, highlighted her motivation to produce films that place women at the center of the story. She said she was drawn to Chentian because it addresses intimate female experiences while reflecting broader political realities.
Beyond Chentian, Arraf is developing a second feature, Kingdom of Bees, which will also focus on women. The screenplay is inspired by a true story from her village set against the backdrop of the Lebanese war.
The upcoming ECAM Forum pitch will give Chentian a chance to secure additional co‑production partners, particularly from Spain, and to attract sales representation. The film’s success at Göteborg and its alignment with European co‑production interests could position it for festival consideration, including potential screenings at the Berlin International Film Festival or the Venice Film Festival.
At present, Chentian remains in the pre‑production phase, with financing and casting still pending. The project’s next public milestone is the June 10 pitch in Madrid, after which the production team will seek to finalize budgets, secure shooting locations and assemble a crew.
The film’s development reflects a growing trend of Palestinian stories that move beyond refugee camp settings to rural village narratives, offering new perspectives on the region’s social and political dynamics.
The project’s progress will be monitored through announcements from Odeh Films, Mayana Films and the Arab Cultural Fund, as well as updates from the ECAM Forum and subsequent festival programs.
The 90‑minute drama, written and directed by Suha Arraf, is being produced by May Odeh’s Odeh Films in Palestine and Germany’s Mayana Films, the latter co‑founded with Zorana Mušikić. German producer Lena Zimmerhackel is also on board, and the Arab Cultural Fund has pledged support.
Backers began to line up in early May when the project was announced by Odeh Films. Variety reported that Rina Khoury of Arab Media Network’s Abu‑Lughod Studios in Jordan has joined the list of early financiers. Khoury’s involvement follows a string of regional productions and a track record of expanding Arabic media content.
Chentian took home the €35,000 (US$41,650) Tin Post‑Production Award at the 2026 Göteborg Film Festival Nordic Film Market. The prize, given to projects that show strong post‑production potential, was announced in a Variety article dated May 24. The award will help the film attract co‑producers, sales agents, and festival programmers at the upcoming ECAM Forum.
The story is set in an isolated Palestinian farming village inside Israel. It follows two sisters‑in‑law, Nabila and Shams, who are bound by an exchange marriage to two brothers. After Nabila’s husband dies in a tractor accident, she finds herself trapped in the same household as Shams and her husband Walid. As Israeli authorities begin confiscating the village’s land, personal tensions erupt. Arraf describes the film as a feminist and political exploration of the relationship between women’s bodies and the land.
"There can be no liberation of Palestine without the liberation of women," Arraf told Variety. "The female protagonists are raised to believe they lack strength, but ultimately discover their power."
Arraf’s own upbringing informs the setting. She grew up in a Galilean village near the Lebanese border, in the Israeli town of Mi’ilya, and worked in tobacco farming to pay for university. She has spoken about the importance of land for Palestinians, noting that much of her village’s land was confiscated for military and settlement purposes.
Production is still in the financing stage, and locations, cast and crew have not yet been finalized. Arraf expressed confidence in Odeh’s ability to secure the necessary resources, citing Odeh’s track record and commitment to women‑led projects.
Odeh, who received the Variety MENA Talent Award in 2000, highlighted her motivation to produce films that place women at the center of the story. She said she was drawn to Chentian because it addresses intimate female experiences while reflecting broader political realities.
Beyond Chentian, Arraf is developing a second feature, Kingdom of Bees, which will also focus on women. The screenplay is inspired by a true story from her village set against the backdrop of the Lebanese war.
The upcoming ECAM Forum pitch will give Chentian a chance to secure additional co‑production partners, particularly from Spain, and to attract sales representation. The film’s success at Göteborg and its alignment with European co‑production interests could position it for festival consideration, including potential screenings at the Berlin International Film Festival or the Venice Film Festival.
At present, Chentian remains in the pre‑production phase, with financing and casting still pending. The project’s next public milestone is the June 10 pitch in Madrid, after which the production team will seek to finalize budgets, secure shooting locations and assemble a crew.
The film’s development reflects a growing trend of Palestinian stories that move beyond refugee camp settings to rural village narratives, offering new perspectives on the region’s social and political dynamics.
The project’s progress will be monitored through announcements from Odeh Films, Mayana Films and the Arab Cultural Fund, as well as updates from the ECAM Forum and subsequent festival programs.
