News & Events
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Events
The International Storytelling Festival & Conference 2025
We are organizing the The International Storytelling Festival and Conference 2025, dedicated to reviving the Palestinian story and enhancing its presence in public spaces. The festival aims to share traditional and contemporary storytelling performances by Palestinian and international storytellers in villages, cities, refugee camps, and Bedouin communities across Palestine.
17โ23 November 2025, PALESTINE
Supporters
Seraj Library Project ใฐ๏ธ Mcmillan Stewart Foundation ใฐ๏ธ The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture - AFAC ใฐ๏ธ
Seraj Library Project ใฐ๏ธ Mcmillan Stewart Foundation ใฐ๏ธ The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture - AFAC ใฐ๏ธ
About The Festival & The Conference
Hosted by Seraj Libraries and the House of Stories, the Festival and Conference brings together professional Palestinian and international storytellers to share the art of storytelling with communities, schools, universities, and libraries across Palestine. Each performance celebrates the power of stories, told in both Arabic and English, featuring one Palestinian and one international storyteller on stage.
The Festival and Conference highlight the importance of fairy tales, folk tales, and wonder tales, honoring the oral traditions preserved by women and passed down through generations. Rooted in humanityโs oldest cultural traditions, storytelling has evolved from a communal practice into a vibrant art form with its own festivals and diverse voices.
Partners
Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research | Bethlehem ใฐ๏ธ Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center | Ramallah ใฐ๏ธ Ministry of Education and Higher Education | Palestine ใฐ๏ธ Al-Baluta Charity Association | The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ Women's Programs Center | Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp ใฐ๏ธ Popular Committee | Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp | Qalandia ใฐ๏ธ Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, Aida Palestinian Refugee Camp ใฐ๏ธ Al Maleh village council | Almaleh Village | Tubas ใฐ๏ธ Sanabel Al Reef Collaborative | AlJiftlik Village | Jericho ใฐ๏ธ Seraj Art of Storytelling Academy, The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ Box of wonder Theatre {Sandouq Elajab} of Adel Tartir | Ramallah ใฐ๏ธ RACCONTAMIUNASTORIA, Italy ใฐ๏ธ Praline Gay-Para | Compagnie Pavรฉ Volubile | Paris -France ใฐ๏ธ Jana | Arab Resource Center For Popular Arts | Lebanon ใฐ๏ธ The Fiction Council | Jerusalem ใฐ๏ธ VAF, Visual Art Forum | The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ Laboratory For Global Performance & Politics | Georgetown University | U.S. ใฐ๏ธ Beit Al Karmeh, Dalia Association | The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ PAVIP - Palestinian Association of Visually Impaired Persons | The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ Riwaq- centre for architectural conservation | Al-Bireh ใฐ๏ธ Kufraqab Municipality ใฐ๏ธ Ramallah Municipality ใฐ๏ธ Al-Bireh Municipality ใฐ๏ธ Storytellers of Ireland Association ใฐ๏ธ Union of Irish artists ใฐ๏ธ
Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research | Bethlehem ใฐ๏ธ Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center | Ramallah ใฐ๏ธ Ministry of Education and Higher Education | Palestine ใฐ๏ธ Al-Baluta Charity Association | The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ Women's Programs Center | Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp ใฐ๏ธ Popular Committee | Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp | Qalandia ใฐ๏ธ Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, Aida Palestinian Refugee Camp ใฐ๏ธ Al Maleh village council | Almaleh Village | Tubas ใฐ๏ธ Sanabel Al Reef Collaborative | AlJiftlik Village | Jericho ใฐ๏ธ Seraj Art of Storytelling Academy, The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ Box of wonder Theatre {Sandouq Elajab} of Adel Tartir | Ramallah ใฐ๏ธ RACCONTAMIUNASTORIA, Italy ใฐ๏ธ Praline Gay-Para | Compagnie Pavรฉ Volubile | Paris -France ใฐ๏ธ Jana | Arab Resource Center For Popular Arts | Lebanon ใฐ๏ธ The Fiction Council | Jerusalem ใฐ๏ธ VAF, Visual Art Forum | The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ Laboratory For Global Performance & Politics | Georgetown University | U.S. ใฐ๏ธ Beit Al Karmeh, Dalia Association | The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ PAVIP - Palestinian Association of Visually Impaired Persons | The Old City of Kufr Aqab ใฐ๏ธ Riwaq- centre for architectural conservation | Al-Bireh ใฐ๏ธ Kufraqab Municipality ใฐ๏ธ Ramallah Municipality ใฐ๏ธ Al-Bireh Municipality ใฐ๏ธ Storytellers of Ireland Association ใฐ๏ธ Union of Irish artists ใฐ๏ธ
The Schedule
The Schedule
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10:00 ๐ Seraj Storytelling Center, Kofur Aqab Old City
Festival Opening & Welcome | ุญูุงูุฉ ูุฃุบููุฉ
About Seraj Libraries and the Storytelling Center | ุนู ู ูุชุจุฉ ุณุฑุงุฌ ูุฏุงุฑ ุงูุญูุงูุงุช
About the Festival & Conference | ุนู ุงูู ูุฑุฌุงู ูุงูู ุคุชู ุฑ
10:20 ๐ Kofur Aqab Old City
Presentation on Preserving the Stories of the Houses in the Old City of Kofur Aqab | ุญูุงูุงุช ุงูุฃู ููุฉ ุงููุฏูู ุฉ ูุงูุญุฏูุซุฉ
10:30 ๐ Al-Maghazi Shelter Center, Gaza
Storytelling Performance โ Gaza Stories | ุญูุงูุงุช ุบุฒูุฉ
10:30 ๐ Seraj Storytelling Center, Kofur Aqab Old City
The Story of the House | ุญูุงูุฉ ุงูุฏุงุฑ
11:00โ12:00 ๐ Kofur Aqab Old City
Storytelling Performances ๐ (location depending on each performance)
Storytelling Walk ๐ Sheikh Yassin โ the Oak Tree | ู ุณุงุฑ ุญูู ู ู ุงูุดูุฎ ูุงุณูู ุฅูู ุงูุจููุทุฉ
Wonder Tales ๐ Seraj Storytelling Center | ุฎุฑุงุฑูู ูุฃุณุงุทูุฑ โ ู ูุชุจุฉ ุณุฑุงุฌ ูุฏุงุฑ ุงูุญูุงูุงุช
Storytelling & Drawing ๐ VAF, Visual Art Forum | ุฎูุงู ูู ุฎูุงู
Storytelling for Little Kids ๐ Seraj Children Library | ุญูุงูุงุช ููุฃุทูุงู ุงูุตุบุงุฑ โ ู ูุชุจุฉ ุณุฑุงุฌ
Storytelling & Songs ๐ Beit Al Karmeh, Dalia Association | ุญูุงูุงุช ูุฃุบููุงุช โ ุจูุช ุงููุฑุงู ุฉ
Womenโs Stories ๐ Al-Baluta Charity Association | ุญูุงูุงุช ูุณููุฉ โ ุฌู ุนูุฉ ุงูุจููุทุฉ
Storytelling & Music ๐ PAVIP | ุญูุงูุงุช ูู ูุณููู โ ุฌู ุนูุฉ ุงูู ูููููู ุงูููุณุทููููู
13:30โ15:30 ๐ Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp | Qalandia
Interactive Storytelling Walk at Qalandia Palestinian Refugee Camp | ู ุณุงุฑ ุญูู "ูุญุชุฑู ุงูุญูุงุฉ" โ ู ุฎูู ูููุฏูุง ููุงุฌุฆูู
18:00 ๐ Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Ramallah
Storytelling Performance | ุญูุงูุงุช ู ู ููุณุทูู ูุงูุนุงูู
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9:30โ12:00 ๐ Various Schools in Ramallah
Storytelling โ Strange Tales | ุญูุงูุงุช ุนุฌูุจุฉ โ Banat Beitunia Elementary School
Storytelling โ Joha and His Friends | ุญูุงูุงุช ุฌุญุง ูุฃุตุฏูุงุคู โ Faisal Al-Husseini School
Storytelling โ Taste of Opera | ุญูุงูุงุช ุฃูุจุฑุง โ Al-Karama School
Storytelling โ Grandmothersโ Stories | ุญูุงูุงุช ุงูุฌุฏุงุช โ Samiha Khalil School
Storytelling โ The Sea | ุญูุงูุงุช ุงูุจุญุฑ โ Red Crescent School for the Deaf
Storytelling โ Motherland | ุญูุงูุงุช ู ู ุจูุฏูุง โ Al-Quds School
13:00โ13:30 ๐ Ramallah Old City
Ramallah Storywalk | ู ุณุงุฑ ุญูู ูู ุญุงุฑุงุช ุฑุงู ุงููู ุงูุจูุฏุฉ ุงููุฏูู ุฉ
13:30โ14:00 ๐ Sandouq El-Ajab Theatre
Storytour โ Box of Wonder | ุญูุงูุฉ ุตูุฏูู ุงูุนุฌุจ
17:00โ19:00 ๐ Ramallah Municipal Theatre
Storytelling Performance | ุนุฑุถ ุญูุงูุงุช ูู ูุณููู
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9:00๐ Kobar School, Beirzeit
Storytelling Performance: Folk Tales | ุญูุงูุงุช ุฎุฑุงููุฉ
9:00๐ Dar Al-Hekayat (Storytelling Center)
Storytelling Performance: Stories from Jerusalem and Far Away |ุญูุงูุงุช ู ู ุงููุฏุณ ูู ู ุจุนูุฏ โ Anata School
Storytelling Performance: Stories of Hope | ุญูุงูุงุช ุนู ุงูุฃู ู โ Hizma School
10:00โ12:00๐ Various Schools
Storytelling Performance: Stories of Wonders | ุญูุงูุงุช ุนุฌูุจุฉ โ Deir Abziโ School
Storytelling Performance: Stories from the Earth | ุญูุงูุงุช ู ู ุงูุฃุฑุถ โ Deir Ammar School
Storytelling Performance: Stories of Trees | ุญูุงูุงุช ุงูุฃุดุฌุงุฑ โ Academy of Scholars
๐ Al-Maghazi Womenโs Activity Center, Gaza
Storytelling: Gaza Traditional Stories | ุญูุงูุงุช ุบุฒุฉ ุงูุชูููุฏูุฉ โ ู ุฑูุฒ ุงููุดุงุท ุงููุณุงุฆูุ ู ุฎูู ุงูู ุบุงุฒู
13:30โ15:30๐ Al-Bereh Cultural Center
Storytour: Imagining Jerusalem Exhibition | ุฌููุฉ ูู ู ุนุฑุถ ุชุฎูู ุงููุฏุณ
16:00โ17:00 ๐ Al-Bireh Municipal Library
Storytelling: Between Hope and Freedom | ุญูุงูุงุช ู ุง ุจูู ุงูุฃู ู ูุงูุญุฑูุฉ
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9:00โ10:00 ๐ The Storytelling Center & Virtual
Worlds of Storytelling: Sha'ir Rababa | ุนุงูู ูู ุงูุญูู) ุดุงุนุฑ ุงูุฑุจุงุจุฉ)
10:00โ11:30 ๐ The Storytelling Center & Virtual
The Archive: Heritage and Contemporary Practice | "ุงูุฃุฑุดูู: ุงูุชุฑุงุซ ูุงูู ู ุงุฑุณุฉ ุงูู ุนุงุตุฑุฉ"
11:30โ12:00 ๐ The Storytelling Center & Virtual
Adel Tartirโs Emancipatory Theatrical Compass | ุงูุจูุตูุฉ ุงูู ุณุฑุญูุฉ ุงูุชุญุฑุฑูุฉ ูุนุงุฏู ุชุฑุชูุฑ
13:00โ14:00๐ The Storytelling Center
The Art of Storytelling in Palestine through Research and Book | ูู ุงูุญูู ูู ููุณุทูู - ุงูุจุญุซ ูุงูู ููุงุฌ
14:00โ15:30๐ The Storytelling Center & Virtual
The Question of Storytelling | The responsibility of the storyteller today ู ุณุคูููุฉ ุงูุญูุงุฆูู ุงูููู
The Art of Care | ูู ุงูุฑุนุงูุฉ
The Toxins of History | ุณู ูู ุงูุชุงุฑูุฎ
Physical Storytelling | ุญูุงูุงุช ุงูุฌุณุฏ
16:00โ17:30๐ The Storytelling Center
Round Table: Responsibilities and Futures of Palestinian Storytelling | "ุงูุทุงููุฉ ุงูู ุณุชุฏูุฑุฉ: ู ุณุคูููุงุช ูู ุณุชูุจู ูู ุงูุญูู ุงูููุณุทููู"
Three questions for discussion, participants asking questions on papers | ุทุงููุฉ ููุงุด ุชุชูุงูู ุซูุงุซ ุฃุณุฆูุฉ ุฑุฆูุณูุฉุ ูุทุฑุญ ุงูู ุดุงุฑููู ุฃุณุฆูุชูู ู ูุชูุจุฉ ุนูู ุฃูุฑุงู
Opening Presentations: The Art of Storytelling โ Parallels Between Irish and Palestinian Narrative Traditions (Paola Initiative) | (ุงูุนุฑูุถ ุงูุงูุชุชุงุญูุฉ: ููู ุงูุญูู: ุฃูุฌู ุงูุดุจู ุจูู ุงูุชูุงููุฏ ุงูุณุฑุฏูุฉ ุงูุฅูุฑููุฏูุฉ ูุงูููุณุทูููุฉ) โ ุจู ุจุงุฏุฑุฉ ู ู ุจุงููุง
18:00โ19:30๐ The Storytelling Center
Storytelling Performance: Stand Up Comedy, Wonder Tales, Sha'er AlRababa | ุญูุงูุงุช ููู ูุฏูุฉ ูุฑุจุงุจูุฉ ุนุฌูุจุฉ
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08:00โ09:00๐ Seraj Library, Jiftlik, Jordan Valley โ Family Garden
Storytelling Around Breakfast | ุญูุงูุงุช ุญูู ุงูุฅูุทุงุฑ
09:00โ10:00 ๐ Fields, Jordan Valley
Stories From and To Farmers | ุญูุงูุงุช ู ู ูู ุน ุงูููุงุญูู
10:00โ12:00 ๐ Jordan Valley
Storytelling Performance: The Earth | ุญูุงูุงุช ุงูุฃุฑุถ
12:00โ13:00๐ Family Garden, Jordan Valley
Stories Around Lunch | ุญูุงูุงุช ุญูู ุงูุบุฏุงุก
13:30โ15:30๐ Ein Helwa & Wadi Elmaleh, Tubas, Jordan Valley
Storytelling Drive and Walk: From Salt to Sweet | ู ุณุงุฑ ุญูู ู ู ุงูุญููุฉ ููู ุงูุญ
17:00โ19:00 ๐ Jordan Valley
Storytelling in Tents | ุญูุงูุงุช ูู ุงูุฎูุงู
11:00โ12:00๐ Seraj Library, Birzeit Old City
Storytelling Performance: Women | ุญูุงูุงุช ูุณููุฉ
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08:00โ09:30 ๐ The Old Town of Birzeit
Tea & Breakfast (Manakeesh Sakhin) | ุดุงู ูุงูุทุงุฑ (ู ูุงููุด ุณุฎู)
Tea & Coffee on the Fire | ุดุงู ููููุฉ ุน ุงูุญุทุจ
Walk and Talk: The Olive Path | ุฏุฑุจ ุงูุฒูุชูู
09:30โ10:00 ๐ The Old Town of Birzeit
Manakeesh Taboun | ู ูุงููุด ุทุงุจูู
10:00โ12:00 ๐ The Library / Activity Room / Meeting Room / Children Library
Hamza: "Palestinian Narrative Storytelling in the Time of Genocide: Between Preserving Memory and Creating Hope" | ุงูุณุฑุฏ ุงูููุณุทููู ูู ุฒู ู ุงูุฅุจุงุฏุฉ: ุจูู ุญูุธ ุงูุฐุงูุฑุฉ ูุตูุงุนุฉ ุงูุฃู ู
Paola: "1, 2, 3, Eyes on Me!" | ูุงุญุฏุ ุงุซูุงูุ ุซูุงุซุฉุ ุฃูุธุงุฑูู ุนููู!
Johan: "Oral Storytelling Inspired by Rhetoric Exercises" | ุงูุณุฑุฏ ุงูุดููู ุงูู ุณุชูุญู ู ู ุชู ุงุฑูู ุงูุฎุทุงุจุฉ
Sally Shalabi: "Between Memory and Imagination" | ุณุงูู ุดูุจู: ุจูู ุงูุฐุงูุฑุฉ ูุงูุฎูุงู
13:30โ14:30 ๐ Outside Theatre
How Did Sindibad Sneak into My Stories Without a Visa | ููู ุชุณูู ุงูุณูุฏุจุงุฏ ุงูู ูุตุตู ุฏูู ุชุฃุดูุฑุฉ
14:30โ15:30 ๐ Outside Theatre
Waseem and Dalia Talk: "The Art of Storytelling Through Poetry and Playwriting" | ุญูุงุฑูุฉ (ูู ุงูุญูู ู ู ุฎูุงู ุงูุดุนุฑ ูุงููุชุงุจุฉ ุงูู ุณุฑุญูุฉ)
15:30โ16:30 ๐ Outside Theatre
Storytelling: Between Theory and Practice | ูู ุงูุญูู ุจูู ุงููุธุฑูุฉ ูุงูู ู ุงุฑุณุฉ
17:00โ18:30 ๐ Outside Theatre
Women Saving Heritage | ุงููุณุงุก ุญุงุฑุณุงุช ุงูุชุฑุงุซ
๐ Outside Theatre
Storytelling Performance: A Story to Live | ุญูุงูุฉ ููุนูุด
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09:00โ11:30 ๐ Old City of Bethlehem
Storywalk in Bethlehem: Aqaba and Wad | ู ุณุงุฑ ุงูุนูุจุฉ ูุงููุงุฏ
13:30โ16:00 ๐ Aida Refugee Camp
Aida Refugee Camp Storywalk | ุญูู ูู ุดู ูู ู ุฎูู ุนุงูุฏุฉ
15:00โ16:00 ๐ Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society, Aida Camp
Performances: Women Stories | ุญูุงูุงุช ูุณููุฉ โ The Center
Performances: Stories of Hope | ุญูุงูุงุช ุงูุฃู ู โ The Roof
Storytelling Performances: Stories of Love and Care | ุญูุงูุงุช ุงูุญุจ ูุงูุฑุนุงูุฉ โ The Library
17:00โ19:00 ๐ Dar Yusuf Nasri Jacir for Art and Research | Bethlehem
Storytelling Performance: Stories Between Rivers | ุญูุงูุงุช ุจูู ุงูุฃููุงุฑ

