Thirteen in Gaza () is a Palestinian drama film, directed by Hosam Abu Dan and released in 2026.Scott Roxborough, "Watermelon Pictures Acquires ‘Thirteen in Gaza’ Out of TIFF". The Hollywood Reporter, September 16, 2026. The film centres on Raghad (Mary Ziyara), a 13-year-old girl coming of age in a displacement camp in the Gaza Strip after losing most of her family in a bombing raid, while her father Abu (Firas Al-Masri) is drawn into a dangerous black market economic scheme run by Khalil (Ghassan Salem) in an attempt to provide for himself and his daughter.Michael Hollett, "TIFF review: “Thirteen in Gaza” is essential viewing but will it get wide release?". NEXT, September 25, 2026.
Production The first feature-length film production to be shot in Gaza since the beginning of the Gaza war,Melanie Goodfellow, "‘Thirteen In Gaza’ Trailer: Father & Daughter Tale Shot In Devastated Palestinian Territory Won NETPAC Award At TIFF". Deadline Hollywood, September 21, 2026. the film was shot in just 12 days by a skeleton crew of just five people, reduced to four when one of the crew members was injured when the film was itself disrupted by an airstrike. It was filmed digitally onto two memory cards.
Distribution The film premiered in the Centrepiece program at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, where it was the winner of the NETPAC Prize.Pete Hammond, "‘La Bola Negra’ Wins Oscar Predictive Toronto Film Festival People’s Choice Award". Deadline Hollywood, September 20, 2026.
It was one of several films, from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, that faced concerns during the 2026 film festival season around their ability to secure commercial distribution deals due to major film companies shying away from the potential for controversy.Scott Roxborough, "Israel, Palestine and the Films No One Will Buy". The Hollywood Reporter, September 13, 2026. Other films implicated in the same discussion included NAZA, Our Loves and Edward Said: Between Worlds.
The film was ultimately acquired for distribution by the independent company Watermelon Pictures.
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