Palestine Comedy Club

There are no comedy clubs in the West Bank, so Jenin-born comedian Alaa Shehada decided to build a scene himself. Palestine Comedy Club follows six comedians from Haifa, Ramallah, Jenin, Hebron and the Golan Heights as they write and tour a show across Palestine, each holding a different permit and crossing checkpoints to reach their audiences.

The tour is a success and the group is invited to perform in London, with the first show set for 7 October 2023. As the bombardment of Gaza begins, the comedians have to decide what it means to make people laugh in a time of grief.

Directed by West Bank filmmaker Alaa “Regash” Aliabdallah, the film shows humour as a part of Palestinian life under occupation and a way of holding on to it.