Once Upon a Time in Gaza
In 2007, Yahya works at his friend Osama’s falafel shop in Gaza, which doubles as a drug dealing front. His entanglement leads him to witness a terrible crime. A couple years later, Gaza’s Ministry of Culture randomly chooses Yahya to star in a TV series that highlights martyrs and heroes of the resistance. As conflict simmers in the distance, Yahya unexpectedly receives real weapons, heightening the stakes as the show provides him with an opportunity to confront the perpetrator of the offense that changed his life.
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Cast
14 people
Nader Abd Alhay
Yahya
Also in
The Turkish Detective
Farah
Majd Eid
Osama
Known for
Holy Spider
Inheritance
Ramzi Maqdisi
Abou Sami
Also in
Warrior Nun
Ghost Hunting
Is'haq Elias
The Director
Known for
Mosul
Messiah
Said Saada
The Productor
Also in
كفر اللوز
Hussein Nakhleh
The Minister of Foreign Affairs
Also in
3000 Nights
Osama Malhas
The Minister of the Interior
No other roles listed
Abood Obeid
The Minister of Religious Affairs
No other roles listed
Michael Zananiri
Israeli Officer
Also in
Mercenary: An Extraction Series
Hayfa Alrabee
Government Employee
No other roles listed
Mohammed Theyab
Neurologist
No other roles listed
Reem Hassouneh
Reem Hassouneh Pharmacist
No other roles listed
Tarzan Nasser Director · Arab Nasser Director Marie Legrand Screenplay
United States release October 5, 2025 · Produced in France, Portugal, Germany, United Kingdom, Palestinian Territories, United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Qatar, Syria · Production Kometa Films, Made in Palestine Project
Production
Les Films du Tambour
Production
Kometa Films
Production
Made in Palestine Project
Production
Ukbar Filmes
Production
Riva Film
Production
Jordan Pioneers
Production
Eurimages
Production
France · Portugal · Germany · United Kingdom · Palestinian Territories · United Arab Emirates · Jordan · Qatar · Syria
Produced in
Languages
Original title
كان ياما كان في غزة
Original language
Arabic
Spoken on screen
Arabic
Release dates
France · May 19, 2025
Premiere · Cannes Film Festival
France · June 25, 2025
Theatrical
United States · October 5, 2025
Premiere · Mill Valley Film Festival
Armenia
July 17, 2025 · Premiere · Golden Apricot International Film Festival
Australia
August 14, 2025 · Premiere · Melbourne International Film Festival
October 16, 2025 · Premiere · SXSW Sydney
Belarus
July 30, 2026 · Theatrical
Egypt
November 14, 2025 · Premiere · Cairo International Film Festival
Germany
September 28, 2025 · Premiere · Filmfest Hamburg
February 12, 2026 · Theatrical
Greece
February 5, 2026 · Theatrical
Hong Kong SAR China
October 24, 2025 · Premiere · Hong Kong Asian Film Festival
October 30, 2025 · Theatrical
Indonesia
September 28, 2025 · Premiere · Jakarta World Cinema
Morocco
December 1, 2025 · Premiere · Marrakech International Film Festival
Philippines
November 14, 2025 · Premiere · QCinema International Film Festival
Romania
August 12, 2026 · Digital · HBO Max
August 17, 2026 · TV · Cinemax
Sweden
January 27, 2026 · Premiere · Göteborg Film Festival
Türkiye
October 5, 2025 · Premiere · Filmekimi
United Kingdom
November 20, 2025 · Premiere · London Palestine Film Festival
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Some details come from TheTVDB.