Synopsis:

A Childhood is a hybrid documentary that explores the lives of Palestinian children growing up under Israeli Occupation, structured around the universal stages of Infancy, Early Childhood, Middle Childhood, and Adolescence. Combining mobile phone footage, animated reenactments, and first-person testimonies, the film reveals the emotional and psychological toll of the occupation on Palestinian children, centering their stolen innocence, fractured memories, and enduring humanity. From infants left crying in cars after their parents' arrest to adolescents like Ahmad Manasra, imprisoned at thirteen and placed in solitary confinement, the film traces how fear, resilience, and imagination intertwine under Israeli control. At its core, A Childhood challenges the notion that "it all started on October 7." It situates the present within a decades-long history of arrests, raids, checkpoints, and the systematic criminalization of Palestinian children. Rather than reducing them to statistics, the film restores their individuality. Through this lens, childhood itself is revealed as one of the most fragile frontlines of Israeli Occupation.

Director’s profile:

Scandar Copti is an Oscar-nominated Palestinian filmmaker and visual artist. His work explores the interplay between individual agency and broader socio-political forces, offering a nuanced portrayal of 1948 Palestinians within their complex reality. He teaches filmmaking at NYU Abu Dhabi.

His debut feature, Ajami (2009), co-directed with Yaron Shani, garnered the Caméra d'Or Special Mention at Cannes, the Sutherland Trophy at the BFI, and an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film. Copti's second feature, Happy Holidays (2024), premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it won the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay. The film also received the Étoile d'Or (Golden Star) at the Marrakech International Film Festival and the Golden Alexander at the Thessaloniki International Film Festival, among other awards.

Producer’s profile:

Fresco Films, led by CEO Tony Copti and co-founder Jiries Copti, is a premier production company dedicated to bold, artist-driven storytelling. Tony has produced, line-produced, and managed over 30 international productions, including the Academy Award-nominated Ajami (2009), Nadav Lapid’s Policeman (Locarno Grand Jury Prize), and Nina Menkes’ Dissolution (Jerusalem Best Feature). His recent credits include Scandar Copti’s Happy Holidays (2024), Ameer Fakher Eldin’s Yunan (2024) and The Stranger (2021). Jiries Copti has produced Happy Holidays, Yunan, The Stranger, The Devil’s Drivers (2021), and Blood Like Water (2023), and line-produced acclaimed titles such as The Cakemaker (2017), America (2022), and Red Cow (2018). Together, Tony and Jiries have built Fresco Films into a hub for distinctive Palestinian and transnational cinema, committed to amplifying underrepresented voices and connecting local stories with global audiences.

Co-Producer Profile: Jean Bréhat has produced 45 films, including 11 selected as official entries for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film—four of which were nominated. His films have won 12 awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including three acting Palmes, two Grand Prizes, and a Silver Bear at the Berlinale. Known for his long-standing collaboration with Rachid Bouchareb, Bréhat has also worked with acclaimed directors such as Bruno Dumont, Roschdy Zem, Youssef Chahine, Ziad Doueiri, and Karim Dridi. He teaches at La Fémis and is a member of both the César Academy and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.