On 2 November, the anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, Film Lab Palestine are calling upon cinemas, festivals and organisers around the world to screen Palestinian film. This global effort is a show of solidarity with Palestine, an act of amplification for censored Palestinian voices, and a contribution to shifting the distorted narrative.
SAFAR Film Festival and The Garden Cinema are proud to participate in this year's Palestine Cinema Days Around the World, presenting a free screening of Tewfik Salah's 1972 classic The Dupes, followed by a panel discussion.
The Dupes is set in 1958 and follows the journeys of three Palestinian refugees—Abu Qais, Assad, and Marwan— who are desperate to escape the harsh conditions of refugee camps in Lebanon and seek a better life in Kuwait. From three different generations and with only their shared nationality and desired destination in common, to get there they they must put their trust in a smuggler promising safe passage - and endure the searing desert sun.
Hailed as one of the first Arab films to put Palestinian refugees at the centre of their own story, The Dupes is a powerful political drama based on the acclaimed novella Men in the Sun (1962) by Palestinian author and militant Ghassan Kanafani. This black-and-white film is an unmissable classic which shines a stark light on the plight of forcibly displaced Palestinians in the aftermath of the Nakba. Today, over 50 years since its release, it offers a hauntingly timeless insight into the enduring devastation of the Israeli occupation and the perilous realities facing refugees as they cross borders in search of better circumstances.
This is a free event and space is limited. Tickets are limited to 2 per booking. If you book and are no longer able to attend, please inform the box office as soon as possible.
About Tewfik Saleh
Tewfik Saleh was a pioneering Egyptian filmmaker known for his realistic and political cinema. Born in Alexandria in 1926, he studied film in Paris. His bold films tackled deep social and political issues, most notably The Dupes (1972), based on Ghassan Kanafani’s novel Men in the Sun. Saleh was known for his humanistic style and independent stance, often clashing with censorship authorities. He received several international awards and passed away in 2013, leaving behind a powerful legacy in Arab cinema.
About the organisers
SAFAR Film Festival is the UK’s largest festival of Arab cinema which screens annually across the UK in June. Organised by The Arab British Centre, we showcase the broad range of talent from the region by working with curators on themed programmes and inviting filmmakers for live Q&As. We develop the UK film landscape through industry opportunities for early-career filmmakers, curators and artists. We aim to increase access to Arab cinema in the UK by working with screening partners across the country, as well as digital programmes. @safarfilmfestival
The Arab British Centre aims to further understanding of the Arab world by promoting its culture, sharing its knowledge and supporting a community of individuals and organisations that work to enhance friendship and collaboration between people of the UK and the Arab world. @arabbritishcentre