Historical epic 'Palestine 36' by Annemarie Jacir is about to premiere in Toronto. Preview the exclusive clip here.

In the heart of the Toronto International Film Festival, Annemarie Jacir's latest film, "Palestine 36," has made its world premiere. This historical epic, set during the Palestinian uprising against Britain's dominion of the region, promises to shed light on the human cost of empire and the enduring price of resistance.

Jacir, the founder of Philistine Films, a production company based in Palestine and Jordan, has gathered a stellar cast for this ambitious project. Hiam Abbass, known for her roles in "The Visitor" and "The Night Manager," plays Hanan. Jeremy Irons, an iconic British actor, portrays High Commissioner Wauchope. Karim Daoud Anaya, Saleh Bakri, Robert Aramayo, Billy Howle, Liam Cunningham, Dhafer L'Abidine, and Yasmine Al-Massri round out the ensemble.

The story follows a young man who gets caught up in political upheaval as tensions rise in Jerusalem and his village amid British crackdowns prompted by the arrival of Jewish immigrants escaping antisemitism in Europe. History is relentless, and all sides spiral towards inevitable collision in a decisive moment for the British Empire and the future of the entire region.

Robert Aramayo, who stars in "Palestine 36," is also a cast member in "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power" and TIFF title "I Swear." Liam Cunningham, another star of the film, is well-known for his role in "Game of Thrones."

France's MK2 films and Lucky Number are co-representing international rights for the film. North American distribution rights have been acquired by Watermelon Pictures.

"Palestine 36" is produced by Ossama Bawardi, with co-producers Cat Villiers, Azzam Fakhreddin, Hani Farsi, Nils Åstrand, Olivier Barbier, Nathanaël Karmitz, Katrin Pors, and Hamza Ali. Jacir aims to examine the early roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, tracing the origins of a historic movement that reshaped the region and continues to reverberate to this day.

In addition, "Palestine 36" is the Palestinian entry in the international feature Oscar race. Saleh Bakri, who stars in the film, is also known for his role in "Blue Caftan."

Production companies for the film include Philistine Films, Autonomous, Corniche Media, MK Prods., and Snowglobe. With its powerful cast and compelling narrative, "Palestine 36" promises to be a thought-provoking addition to this year's TIFF lineup.