AMMAN, Jordan – Principal photography has wrapped on Occupational Hazards, the new feature film written and directed by Jordanian filmmaker Bassel Ghandour. The project has now entered post-production, with editing, sound design, music composition, visual effects and colour grading underway ahead of its planned international festival launch.
اضافة اعلان
Occupational Hazards marks Ghandour’s third feature film following Theeb, which earned an Academy Award nomination and won a BAFTA Award, and The Alleys, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival before enjoying a successful international festival run and becoming one of the most widely watched Arab films on Netflix in the region.
Blending dark comedy with intimate human drama, Occupational Hazards follows a Palestinian family in Jerusalem struggling to keep their home from collapsing, both literally and figuratively, as they confront a system that forces them into increasingly inventive and unconventional acts of survival. Through humour, resilience and everyday acts of resistance, the film offers a fresh perspective on Palestinian life under occupation.
Speaking about the project, Ghandour said: “Palestinian stories have often been told through a lens of pain and suffering, and with good reason.there is plenty of both. But with Occupational Hazards, we wanted to offer something different and move beyond the dramatic frameworks that have traditionally shaped Palestinian cinema.”
He added: “I have always been drawn to films that transport audiences into worlds they have never experienced before. Research has always been central to my filmmaking process, and for Occupational Hazards we built the story on extensive research into the inventive ways Palestinians navigate life under occupation. Those real experiences became the foundation of the film’s world and characters.”
Producer Rula Nasser described Occupational Hazards as a continuation of her long-standing creative collaboration with Ghandour following the success of The Alleys.
“Occupational Hazards explores the psychological and emotional impact of life under occupation through deeply human, character-driven storytelling. It is a film that balances political realities with humour, vulnerability and humanity,” she said.
Nasser added: “At its core, the film examines the invisible scars left by systemic violence while celebrating dignity, resilience and the determination to continue living despite impossible circumstances. Although rooted in a Palestinian context, its themes resonate far beyond borders.”
The film stars acclaimed Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass alongside Yumna Marwan, Nabil Al Raee, Yafa Bakri, Mohammad Ghassan, Mohammad Karaki, Wardi Eilabouni, rapper Daboor, Matt Lieb and Daniel Maté.
Reflecting on her involvement in Occupational Hazards, Abbass said: “I was immediately drawn to the story, particularly its intelligent and authentic humour despite the harshness of the circumstances. It was refreshing to work with a director who is open to collaboration while maintaining a clear vision for the film.”
Speaking about her character, Ebtikar, Abbass added: “She is a complex woman driven by profound conviction and a deep belief in her cause. What attracted me most was her emotional depth and the risks she is willing to take in order to preserve her dignity and remain true to what she believes in.”
Occupational Hazards reunites Ghandour with cinematographer Justin Hamilton following their collaboration on The Alleys, while also marking the feature film production design debut of architect and artist Dima Srouji.
The film was developed with support from the Jordan Film Fund of the Royal Film Commission – Jordan, the British Film Institute (BFI), and producer Charlotte Knowles. Production received backing from the Red Sea Film Fund, Doha Film Institute, the Film Committee at Media City Qatar, and the Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC).
Occupational Hazards is produced by Rula Nasser and Bassel Ghandour, and co-produced by Metafora Productions and Cocoon Films, alongside a network of regional and international partners committed to supporting independent Arab cinema.
