Why it matters:
The Sobh Media Festival serves as a counterpoint to dominant Western narratives by providing a platform for voices that represent alternative geopolitical and cultural perspectives. With thousands of submissions and numerous high-profile guests, the festival reflects the growing momentum behind media that is aligned with local identities and spiritual values.
The big picture:
The festival, now in its third edition, emphasizes the media’s role in shaping a new global order, challenging U.S. and Israeli influence.
The event showcases international solidarity with Palestine, particularly in the wake of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
A significant presence of journalists, filmmakers, and former diplomats from across Europe, the U.S., and the Global South underlines growing dissent against Western hegemony in media narratives.
What they're saying:
Organizers say this year’s theme, “Media and the New Global Order,” is rooted in spiritual and regional identity, with a focus on resistance media. Festival leadership highlighted the event’s “Palestine Prize” as a longstanding core of the festival, which has evolved into a dedicated segment attracting hundreds of entries.
Key points:
- 4,160 media works from 40 countries have been submitted; 533 focus exclusively on Palestine.
- Entries span formats like TV programs, podcasts, short films, documentaries, animations, and social media content.
- A new international media market launched today, with foreign and domestic broadcasters in attendance.
- Screening of “Emerald of Resistance: Ireland, the Voice of Palestine”
- Four expert panels and multiple workshops on investigative journalism, war documentaries, and social media production
- Twelve lectures at top Iranian universities
- 46 notable guests from Egypt, the U.S., the U.K., Russia, Brazil, Japan, and others are attending, many known for pro-Palestine advocacy post.
Go deeper:
Workshops will delve into technical and editorial skills, ranging from investigative reporting and political filmmaking to co-producing international cinema and managing social media networks.
Panels will cover strategic themes like the fall of U.S. hegemony, Israel’s lobbying power in the West, and the rise of digital counter-narratives in the post-October 7 media environment.
Want a breakdown of how resistance media is reframing the global conversation? The Sobh Festival might be the clearest case study yet.
Hossein Vaez
