Origin: Palestine, France, Denmark | Documentary | Director: Scandar Copti | 90 minutes

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A Childhood.
A hybrid documentary that explores the lives of Palestinian children growing up under Israeli Occupation, structured around the universal stages of Infancy, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, and Adolescence. Combining mobile phone footage, animated reenactments, and first-person testimonies, the film reveals the emotional and psychological toll of the occupation on Palestinian children, centering their stolen innocence, fractured memories, and enduring humanity. From infants left crying in cars after their parents' arrest to adolescents like Ahmad Manasra, imprisoned at thirteen and placed in solitary confinement, the film traces how fear, resilience, and imagination intertwine under Israeli control. At its core, A Childhood challenges the notion that "it all started on October 7." It situates the present within a decades-long history of arrests, raids, checkpoints, and the systematic criminalization of Palestinian children. Rather than reducing them to statistics, the film restores their individuality. Through this lens, childhood itself is revealed as one of the most fragile frontlines of Israeli Occupation.

November 2025 Looking for: Financiers, sales, distribution, TV pre-buys
For more information go to: https://www.palestinefilminstitute.org/en/idfa-2025/a-childhood
Contact: Scandar Copti; sounbol@gmail.com