Father and Daughter fight hope in Gaza's ruins, wins NETPAC at TIFF

**NETPAC Award Honors ‘Thirteen in Gaza,’ a Father‑Daughter Drama Shot in Devastated Territory**

The 2024 Toronto International Film Festival announced that *Thirteen in Gaza* had won the prestigious NETPAC Award over the weekend. The honor, given at Toronto’s Centrepiece sidebar, marks a significant moment for a film produced entirely under war conditions in Gaza.

The award places the Palestinian‑directed feature in the international spotlight for the first time since the conflict’s escalation.

Directed by Hosam Abu Dan, *Thirteen in Gaza* follows 13‑year‑old Ragha, played by Mary Ziyara, as she navigates puberty and survival in a crowded displacement camp after her home and most of her family were destroyed in a missile strike.

Firas Al‑Masri portrays her father, who must make difficult choices to keep his daughter safe while dealing with the loss of privacy, safety, and maternal support.

The story unfolds against a backdrop of near‑total devastation: close to 74,000 people killed, more than 173,000 injured, and much of Gaza reduced to rubble following the Israeli military campaign sparked by the October 7 attacks.

Abu Dan could not attend the festival in person. The front‑row seats reserved for him remained empty, and he addressed the audience through a pre‑recorded video.

“Honestly I wish I could have been with you in this moment… to have watched the film on the big screen, to see the birth of Thirteen in Gaza, a film I can only compare to my first child,” he said against the backdrop of a pile of rubble. “For it to be born while I am far from it, it’s a hard feeling.”

## Background & Context

The Israeli military campaign that began after the October 7 terror attacks has left Gaza in a state of unprecedented ruin. Over 74,000 people have been killed and more than 173,000 injured, with large swaths of the territory reduced to rubble.

In this environment, *Thirteen in Gaza* stands out as the first feature‑length local production to emerge from Gaza since the war’s onset. The film’s creation required navigating extreme logistical obstacles, including limited access to resources and constant threats from ongoing strikes.

Hosam Abu Dan’s work represents a broader cultural resurgence under fire. After directing short films such as *Six Miles Out* and documentaries like *Gaza Sound Man*, he has now delivered a feature that encapsulates the everyday resilience of Gaza’s residents.

The film was produced with the support of the Doha Film Institute and the Arab Culture Fund, highlighting regional cooperation to sustain Palestinian storytelling amid conflict.

## What Happened at TIFF

During its world premiere in the Centrepiece sidebar, *Thirteen in Gaza* captured the attention of critics and festival attendees alike. The NETPAC Award, awarded by the Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema, recognized the film’s artistic merit and poignant narrative.

Abu Dan’s pre‑recorded address served as a connective bridge between his absence and the festival audience, offering a raw reflection on producing art while being physically separated from the scenes it depicts.

The front‑row seats allocated for Abu Dan remained empty, underscoring the ongoing physical separation between the film’s creators and its reception in an international setting.

The festival’s acknowledgment of the film’s triumph also signals a growing global appetite for stories that arise from conflict zones, especially those that emphasize personal experience over broader political narratives.

## The Film’s Journey

*Thirteen in Gaza* features a wholly local cast and crew, a fact Abu Dan emphasized as the film’s authenticity. He recalled the challenges faced during production: “One of the hardest situations is that on the fourth day a nearby strike hit us and one of our colleagues was seriously injured,” he said.

“After that I started asking myself what it means to have a drama come out of Gaza after a long war and a long absence of dramas coming out of Gaza. Then I realized this film was made with blood.”

The narrative centers on Ragha’s struggle to find safety and normalcy in the cramped confines of a displacement camp, while her father confronts moral dilemmas that could jeopardize their survival.

Mary Ziyara’s portrayal of a teenager forced to confront puberty under siege conditions brings an intimate human perspective to the broader tragedy. The film’s production overcame obstacles that included on‑screen dangers and the loss of a crew member, illustrating the determination of Gaza’s creative community.

International sales rights are handled by Mad World, ensuring the film’s reach beyond festival circuits. The partnership with a global distributor underscores the industry’s recognition of the film’s potential to resonate with audiences worldwide, even as its content remains rooted in a very specific and ongoing conflict.

The NETPAC Award signals both an artistic achievement and a cultural milestone for Gaza. It underscores the resilience of its people and the power of cinema to give voice to those living amid unimaginable hardship.

The recognition also serves as a reminder that stories born from conflict can find their place on the world stage, offering audiences a glimpse into lives that are often only known through statistics and headlines.