The 2nd edition of the Palestinian Independent Film Festival (PIFF) took place from 13 to 15 June 2025, unfolding simultaneously in Limassol (Cyprus) and Crete, with screenings hosted in Agios Nikolaos and, for the first time, Chania. This edition was guided by the words “We shall remain, as long as thyme and olive trees remain,” a phrase that speaks to continuity, rootedness, and collective endurance in the face of erasure. The theme shaped both the visual identity and the curatorial direction of the festival, affirming Palestinian presence as something lived, cultivated, and insisted upon — rather than commemorated from a distance.

The edition was dedicated to Dorgham Qreiqe, a dear friend, comrade, artist, and humanitarian from Gaza. In the final year of his life, Dorgham organized film screenings, art workshops, and theatre performances for children living under siege, believing deeply in the power of art to heal, resist, and imagine different futures. He was killed on 18 March 2025, along with most of his family, in an Israeli airstrike on their home in North Gaza. Dedicating this edition to Dorgham was inseparable from PIFF’s purpose: to continue cultural work as an act of care, presence, and resistance.

PIFF 2025 was realized through collaboration between grassroots collectives across Cyprus and Crete, including PIFF Lemesos, the Anti-Racism Committee of Agios Nikolaos, the Social Center – Center of Migrants (Steki Chania), and the Initiative for Solidarity with the Resisting Palestine. Rather than operating as a traveling festival, the edition unfolded simultaneously across locations, creating parallel spaces connected through a shared programme and collective responsibility.

The programme was intentionally concise, spanning three days and presenting four feature-length films by Palestinian filmmakers. The selected works engaged with Palestinian experiences across Gaza, the West Bank, the occupied 1948 territories, and the diaspora, forming a collective cinematic response to a moment defined by ongoing violence, displacement, and steadfastness. The films traced everyday life, memory, and survival, echoing the edition’s central insistence on remaining culturally, politically, and physically present.

As part of strengthening the circulation of Palestinian cinema across languages and contexts, the 2nd edition was supported by Donias and the Athens International Film Festival, who provided Greek subtitles for two films in the programme. This collaboration was grounded in shared political and cultural values and opened space for future partnerships with initiatives committed to supporting Palestinian cinema and independent cultural work across different geographies.

A key development of this edition was the expansion of PIFF’s presence in Crete, with Chania joining Agios Nikolaos as a hosting city. This expansion strengthened collaboration between local initiatives and reaffirmed PIFF’s collective model as one capable of growing horizontally and building shared cultural moments across borders without centralization or institutional frameworks.