Tarzan and Arab Nasser to Make “Once Upon a Time in Gaza” in Jordan

The acclaimed twin‐brother filmmakers Tarzan and Arab Nasser are set to launch production on their latest feature film, Once Upon a Time in Gaza, in Jordan starting September. This bold new project represents both a continuation of their cinematic exploration of Gaza and an ambitious international collaboration.

Project and Production Overview

Once Upon a Time in Gaza is envisioned as a darkly comedic drama set in Gaza circa 2007, capturing the social, political, and human tensions of that era through the lens of genre cinema. The filmmakers have described the film as bearing echoes of a Western style, intertwined with the lived realities of Gaza under blockade.

Production is slated to begin in Jordan in September. Jordan’s film infrastructure, relative stability, and proximity to the region make it a practical and symbolic choice. The Nasser brothers, who have long grappled with the constraints of filming in Gaza, see Jordan as a place where they can recreate and reimagine the Gazan space while collaborating with regional partners.

Co-Production and Partnerships

This is an ambitious multi-national co-production, involving France’s Les Films du Tambour (under producers Marie Legrand and Rani Massalha) as a lead partner. Additional co-producers and funding bodies hail from Palestine, Germany, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan itself.

Key participants include Jordan Pioneers Multimedia, Slate Films (UK), Made in Palestine Project, Riva Filmproduktion (Germany), Red Balloon Film (Germany), Rise Studios (UAE), and Ukbar Filmes (Portugal). The film also benefits from support by national and international funds, including the Jordan Film Fund, as well as European and cinematic co-production grants.

Distribution and Sales Strategy

For distribution, MAD Distribution has secured rights for the Middle East and North Africa region, while Bac Films is handling international sales and French distribution. The Party Film Sales is expected to manage broader global sales. In France, Dulac Distribution will oversee the theatrical release.

The Nasser brothers plan for the film to feature on the international festival circuit, beginning with Cannes, and then to reach cinemas in key markets across the Arab world and Europe. Their goal is to use distribution not only for commercial exposure but also to amplify the cultural and political narratives they embed in the film.

Artistic Vision & Thematic Context

The Nasser brothers have long used cinema as a vehicle for memory, identity, and resistance. With Once Upon a Time in Gaza, they aim to reconstruct Gaza through storytelling — a Gaza that exists both in memory and imagination. Although the real Gaza is densely marred by conflict and destruction, their film seeks to evoke its textures, smells, rhythms, and contradictions.

They described the project as their attempt to resist erasure through art. Even as physical landscapes may be destroyed or displaced, cinema allows them to restore fragments of everyday life: graffiti, buildings, street vendors, music, laughter. In their view, reconstructing Gaza “outside Gaza” is a form of cultural resilience.

Challenges & Expectations

Filming a project so deeply tied to Gaza while operating from Jordan carries both logistical and ethical challenges. Recreating authentic Gazan spaces, securing permits, balancing realism with narrative invention, and managing the political sensitivities of such a story will test the filmmakers.

Yet expectations are high. Following their previous successes — such as Gaza Mon Amour — the Nasser brothers are considered among the most important Palestinian auteurs. Audiences and critics alike will watch closely how they bring this new vision to life.

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