Conversation with the Sea

Hiwar ma’ albahr

Director: Muayad Alayan
Country: Palestine, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Qatar

2026 | 112 min. | Arabic, Hebrew, English
Subtitles: German, English

Cast_ Kamel El Basha, Amer Hlehel, Bahira Ablassi, Ruba Blal, Rebecca Esmeralda Telhami Screenplay_ Muayad Alayan, Rami Alayan Camera_ Lorenzo Casadio Vannucci Producer_ Muayad Alayan, Rami Alayan Rights_ MAD World

For 20 years, he has been told that his son is dead. But since there is no death certificate, a 60-year-old Palestinian man sets out to find out what really happened.

Kamal (Kamel El Basha) lives in Jerusalem and leads a meagre existence. One day, he receives a court notice ordering him to pay off his son’s staggering social security debts. As far as Kamal knows, however, his son died 20 years ago. To prove his son’s death and discover what really happened at the time, he initially has only one clue: the name of a Jewish woman. His search for her takes him through a closed-off society rife with tensions, aggression, and fear. Eventually, Kamal is forced to confront the demons of his own past.

Director

The 41-year-old Palestinian director, producer, and cinematographer Muayad Alayan studied film in San Francisco and now lives in Jerusalem. His films have screened at renowned festivals around the world. He has taught directing and cinematography at several film academies. Alayan also collaborates with youth centers and NGOs to promote film culture in Palestine.

Screenings