Michael Winterbottom and Mohammed Sawwaf have begun production on their latest feature, Gaza Year Zero, a drama set against the stark backdrop of the Gaza Strip. Filming commenced in early February, marking a renewed collaboration between the British director and the Palestinian filmmaker following their acclaimed documentary Eleven Days in May [+lee también:
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Gaza Year Zero tells the story of a 13-year-old boy and his family struggling to survive in a country devastated by war. While the narrative is fictional, it draws heavily on the real-life experiences of Sawwaf and his team, who have lived through years of warfare in the region. The film aims to capture not only the personal toll of war, but also the broader social and political ramifications of life amid conflict.

Filming is taking place on location in Gaza, with Sawwaf’s local crew capturing authentic scenes of a war-torn environment. Meanwhile, Winterbottom co-directs and edits from his base in London. This hybrid production model underscores the global nature of modern filmmaking, allowing the film to merge intimate local perspectives with the broader creative oversight of a director known for his politically charged work. The production faces significant logistical challenges, as shooting in Gaza entails navigating a complex environment where access to resources and safety can be unpredictable.

Winterbottom’s involvement brings additional gravitas to the project. The director, who won the Golden Bear for his 2003 docu-drama In This World, which follows two young Afghan refugees through Iran, Turkey, Italy, France and finally the UK, has a long-standing reputation for exploring themes of displacement and conflict. His previous collaboration with Sawwaf on Eleven Days in May, which memorialised more than 60 children killed in Gaza during an intense 11-day bombing campaign and their families, cemented a working relationship rooted in a commitment to telling stories from war zones with sensitivity and urgency.

Gaza Year Zero is a UK-Palestinian co-production, staged through the joint efforts of Winterbottom and Ben Pearce’s Revolution Films and Gaza-based Alef Multimedia, led by Sawwaf and Hashim Alsaraf, with Melissa Parmenter serving as executive producer. French distributor and world sales agent Le Pacte has secured global rights and distribution for France, signalling strong industry confidence in the project. Le Pacte plans to unveil the film’s first treatment and a series of stills at the upcoming European Film Market (EFM, 13-19 February).