Yalla Parkour

Directed by Areeb Zuaiter

Sweden

2024

89 mins

Unclassified 15+

Filmmaker Areeb Zuaiter reconnects with her Palestinian roots through a decade long friendship with a Gazan parkour athlete. Winner, Grand Jury Prize for International Competition at DOC NYC.

After seeing a video online of young men doing parkour in Gaza, Areeb Zuaiter, a Palestinian filmmaker based in Washington D.C., experienced a wave of nostalgia. In 2015, she connected with Ahmed Matar, and a deep friendship formed through their shared love of filmmaking. Ahmed began sending her videos of his group’s daring parkour pursuits across Gaza. For him, parkour is not just a passion, it’s a possible way out: some of his friends joined international competitions and never returned. Areeb’s film is both a personal reflection on homeland and a dynamic portrait of youth in Palestine. The parkour videos of Ahmed and his friends feature prominently: as he says, “Our videos are the only way for the world to see us.”

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking.

“A bittersweet portrait of yearning for a better life while still carrying the guilt that even if personal freedom is found, it can’t be guaranteed for those closest to you.”

Jordan Raup, The Film Stage

“Yalla Parkour is modest and quiet, much like the voice of its director, which is heard for the better part of the film”

it’s also a testament to the human spirit’s ability to continue and find light, even against all odds.

“A bittersweet portrait of yearning for a better life while still carrying the guilt that even if personal freedom is found, it can’t be guaranteed for those closest to you.”

Jordan Raup, The Film Stage

Tickets

Sun 8 June 2025, 6:15pm

Past Event

Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 5

Event George St - Cinema 5

Fri 13 June 2025, 8:30pm

Past Event

Dendy Newtown - Cinema 3

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Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

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