The documentary film "Inside Gaza" won the Best Documentary Film award at the Francophone Cinemania Film Festival held in Montreal, Canada. Directed by Eline Lam Trong, the film sheds light on the daily work of journalistic crews in the Gaza Strip since the outbreak of the Israeli aggression on October 7, 2023.
Spanning 72 minutes, the film primarily focuses on the lives of four Palestinian journalists working under exceptional and dangerous conditions amidst ongoing war. It documents the significant hardships and risks they face while striving to report the truth from a highly destructive conflict zone, especially as international media are barred from entering Gaza.
The film heavily relies on live field footage shot inside Gaza, mostly captured by the journalists themselves, providing a realistic portrayal of the newsroom environment that has become a workplace refuge amid surrounding devastation.
Produced with the participation of several international entities specializing in documentary filmmaking from France, Germany, and Belgium, the award in Montreal continues a series of successes for the film. Previously, it won an award at the Doc Edge Film Festival in New Zealand and the grand prize at the 33rd Vigra International Documentary Festival in France.
Journalist Adel Za'noun, one of the four main figures featured in the documentary, received the award and dedicated it to the souls of his colleagues who were martyred covering the ongoing aggression in Gaza. He highlighted the harsh conditions journalists endure, including shortages of food, water, and internet, and called on the international community to protect media personnel and ensure press freedom in the occupied territories.
Za'noun concluded by urging global support for Palestinian journalists bravely confronting the machinery of war, emphasizing that the film serves as a constant reminder of the high price paid by martyrs to expose the false narrative of the occupation. His speech received a strong, standing ovation from attendees, honoring the sacrifices of Gaza’s journalists.