Thirteen in Gaza wins NETPAC Award at Toronto Film Festival

The Palestinian film ‘Thirteen in Gaza’, directed by Hosam Abu Dan, has won the NETPAC Award at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film, which had its world premiere at the festival, focuses on the human experience of a 13-year-old girl named Ragha as she navigates puberty and seeks safety amidst the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip.

Shot entirely in Gaza with a local cast and crew under wartime conditions, the production faced significant logistical challenges. The director noted that the crew remained small to facilitate movement in a single vehicle, and a nearby strike during filming resulted in a serious injury to a colleague.

Due to travel restrictions, Abu Dan was unable to attend the premiere in person and addressed the audience via a pre-recorded video from Gaza. He expressed pride in the film’s ability to share a human story from the territory with a global audience, emphasizing the importance of Palestinians telling their own stories.