In a major breakthrough for Arab cinema on the global stage, the Palestinian drama All That’s Left of You has secured a series of key international deals. This just ahead of its highly anticipated European premiere at the 59th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic reported variety
Directed by Palestinian auteur Najwa Najjar (Eyes of a Thief, Pomegranates and Myrrh), All That’s Left of You is already drawing attention for its bold narrative, potent emotional resonance, and political nuance. The film had its world premiere at the Red Sea International Film Festival in Saudi Arabia in 2023. Here, it was met with acclaim for its intimate portrayal of love, memory, and resistance set against the enduring backdrop of occupation.
A Story Etched in Memory and Loss
Loosely inspired by the life and writings of legendary Palestinian poet Ghassan Kanafani, the film weaves together the love story of a Palestinian man and a woman torn apart by betrayal, ideology, and the trauma of history. Decades later, they reunite in an abandoned West Bank house. And what begins as a quiet reckoning becomes a powerful meditation on the enduring legacy of violence and the haunting weight of memory.
The narrative spans generations, utilising the decaying home as a symbolic stage for their unraveling truths. With lyrical cinematography and a script that resists simplification, Najjar delivers a film that is as much a personal story as it is a political act. It questions the cost of loyalty and the fragility of human connection under siege.
International Momentum Builds
Ahead of its European unveiling at Karlovy Vary, All That’s Left of You has sealed a number of major international sales deals, signalling strong interest in Palestinian storytelling amid a broader global appetite for diverse cinema from the Arab world. Key deals include distribution rights picked up by Paris-based sales agency Intramovies, which will handle European territories, with additional agreements in place for Latin America, Japan and parts of the Middle East.
The film has also been acquired by several prominent streaming platforms and arthouse distributors, making it likely that audiences far beyond the festival circuit will be able to experience Najjar’s evocative vision in the months ahead.
A Pivotal Moment for Palestinian Cinema
The growing success of All That’s Left of You reflects a larger movement within Palestinian and Arab cinema toward internationally resonant, fiercely independent filmmaking. With its quiet defiance and complex moral landscape, Najjar’s film joins a lineage of politically charged works that challenge Western perceptions while giving voice to the unspoken wounds of a stateless people.
As the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival continues its tradition of spotlighting daring global auteurs, All That’s Left of You is poised to stand out both as a powerful drama and a cultural event. It arrives as a memory revived, a resistance reclaimed, and a love that endures even when everything else has been taken.
Looking Ahead
With awards buzz already simmering and festival audiences eager to engage with its narrative, All That’s Left of You is likely to leave a deep imprint on the 2025 festival landscape. Whether through its performances, its poetic dialogue, or its raw honesty, the film underscores the power of cinema to tell the stories that history tries to forget.
For Najjar and her team, the film’s success is deeply symbolic. It represents a reclamation of narrative, identity, and the human right to be heard.
For more on Movies & TV read here
After 28 years in corporate life, I swapped spreadsheets for screenplays and now write movie reviews and celebrity articles for Geekhub. It’s been a year of creative freedom, storytelling, and loving what I do—plus the occasional dramatic reaction to plot twists. No more meetings, just movies—and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
