'Changing the world one joke at a time'

A new documentary film reveals how Palestinian stand-ups are trying to bring laughs to their war-ravaged region.

Palestinian Comedy Club follows a group of comics both in their homeland and on a trip to London, with producers saying: ‘Their search for humour amidst the injustice of everyday Palestinian life becomes a plea for humanity against in the face of brutal war.’

It was originally shot in 2022, but when some of the comedians were invited to London the following year, they took a film crew with them. However, they landed in the UK on October 7, 2023, the day of the Hamas terror attacks on Israel, which then unleashed a brutal retaliation on the Gaza Strip.

Palestine Comedy Club is directed by West Bank-based film-maker Alaa Aliabdallah and London-based Charlotte Knowles, who also produces through her company by Tough Crowd.

Knowles, who previously made the Bafta-nominated documentary Rebel Dykes, told Deadline: ‘In Palestine Comedy Club, we capture the humour, resilience, and courage of Palestinian life amidst the realities of occupation, offering a fresh perspective rarely seen globally. Through vibrant performances and raw, authentic storytelling, we celebrate Palestinian culture and its ability to inspire unity and reflection.’

First Hand Films chief executive Esther van Messel added: ‘This film is an amazing contribution to both art and politics. Humour can transport contents like nothing else, and showcased like in Palestinian Comedy Club, we can truly follow my company’s motto that films have to make their audiences laugh, cry, fall in love, and learn something.

‘The film is made with a keen eye, a steady editing hand and a big heart – and never loses sight of its goals, of changing the world one joke, one film at a time," she added.

Shot on a £215,000 budget, the documentary is currently being touted to possible buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market and features comedians Alaa Shehada, Hanna Shammas, Diana Swity, Ebaa Monther, Sam Beale, Raed Al-Shyoukhi, and Khalil Albatran.

A trailer has just been released:

Published: 17 Feb 2025