The film follows British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah after his 43-day ordeal in Gaza’s bombarded hospitals, where he became a symbol of Palestinian resistance. Why does he return, despite the trauma? How does his family cope? The answer lies in their shared passion: Palestine.

Filmmakers Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi, close friends of the Abu Sittahs, document his raw journey from Gaza to Amman, Beirut, and beyond—exploring their collective State of Passion.

SAFAR Festival, one of the UK’s most beloved Arab cinema festivals returns to Birmingham, bringing the best of independent Arab storytelling to the big screen. We’re thrilled to collaborate with SAFAR once again for the West Midlands premiere of A State of Passion (2025)—an urgent and powerful new documentary by acclaimed filmmakers Carol Mansour and Muna Khalidi

Join us before the screening for a short vigil, honouring all our martyrs through poetry, music and testimonies. Palestinian sage tea and honey will be provided. Stay for a conversation after the film with Dr Alan Kessedijan (who has been involved with supporting mental health training initiatives in the West Bank on and off for 15 years) and Yafa Ajweh, a lactation consultant who works with GINA (Gaza Infant Nutrition Alliance) to learn more about the tireless efforts of healthcare workers in Gaza who work in near impossible conditions of being under constant bombardment, forced famine and working with the bare minimum.

Segunda colaboración con el festival internacional itinerante Palestine Cinema Days, para el estreno en Madrid de A State of Passion (Carol Mansour & Muna Khalidi, 2024).

Este evento, organizado por falasteenonfilm, alkarama, MasarBadil y pcm latina , tendrá lugar el día 2 de noviembre, coincidiendo con la fatídica declaración de Balfour de 1917. Ese mismo día, desde rincones de todo el planeta, se proyectarán de forma gratuita las películas del festival.

Únete para la proyección de A State of Passion! Este importante documental sigue al cirujano británico-palestino Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah tras su calvario de 43 días en los hospitales asediados de Gaza, donde se convirtió en un símbolo de la resiliencia palestina. La película explora por qué regresa a pesar del trauma y cómo lo sobrelleva su familia, revelando una respuesta que yace en su inquebrantable compromiso: Palestina.

Tras la proyección tendremos la oportunidad de conversar con una integrante del colectivo sanitarisxpalestina y health workers for Palestine Spain, con experiencia tanto en Cisjordania como en Gaza.

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Second collaboration with the itinerant international festival Palestine Cinema Days, for the Madrid premiere of A State of Passion (Carol Mansour & Muna Khalidi, 2024).

This event, organized by falasteenonfilm, alkarama, MasarBadil, and pcm latina, will take place on November 2nd, coinciding with the fateful 1917 Balfour Declaration. On the same day, the festival's films will be screened for free from corners all over the planet.

Join us for the screening of A State of Passion! This important documentary follows British-Palestinian surgeon Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah after his 43-day ordeal in the besieged hospitals of Gaza, where he became a symbol of Palestinian resilience. The film explores why he returns despite the trauma and how his family copes, revealing an answer that lies in his unbreakable commitment: Palestine.

Following the screening, we will have the opportunity to converse with a member of the collectives sanitarisxpalestina and health workers for Palestine Spain, who has experience both in the West Bank and in Gaza.