This year’s festival includes screenings that have been banned in other parts of the world.

A few of the films in this year's Houston Palestine Film Festival will strike a chord with the audience, especially one titled, Sara 2014.

"It discusses an appalling topic, which is honor killing," says Khalil Abu Sharekh, president of the HPFF. This is the U.S. premiere for Sara 2014, a film by director Khalil al Mozian, whose work is regarded as being too controversial back home in Gaza.

"Unfortunately, it was banned," Sharekh says. "And Hamas refused to show his film on the big screen."

That's why most of the films are easier to screen outside of West Bank and Gaza than inside. To the surprise of many, the director was granted a visa to the U.S. to attend the premiere in Houston and is giving a Q&A after the movie.

Also in this year's lineup is Degrade, a story of 13 women who find themselves stuck in a beauty salon as war breaks out in the street. It's critical of Hamas government, which makes it edgy, Sharekh explains.

But some of the festival's films are more lighthearted, such as Speed Sisters, about a team of all-female race car drivers who are competing head-to-head with Palestinian men in the West Bank.

This is the HPFF's largest festival in its ten-year history, spanning three weekends. They're starting to put more effort into attracting a particular demographic in Houston that's growing. Specifically, Palestinians who are born and raised here, but struggling to shape and form their own identity as being American-Palestinians.

But film has a unique way of breaking through cultural barriers while delivering powerful messages.

"People want to share their stories," Sharekh says. "People want the world to hear their voices. And there's no better way than through art."

The festival runs through May 28th at the Rice University Media Center.

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