Edward Said Documentary to Premiere at TIFF 2026

'Edward Said: Between Worlds' will make its world premiere in the documentary programme at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), offering a new portrait of the influential Palestinian scholar and literary critic through extensive archival material and previously unseen family records.

Directed by Maiken Baird, the 107-minute documentary is presented in English and Arabic and explores Said's life and ideas through his own words, revisiting major works including 'Orientalism' and 'The Question of Palestine'.

Produced with full access to the Said family and Edward Said's estate, the film brings together previously unseen family archives, materials from the Edward Said archive at Columbia University, rare television appearances, lectures, documentaries and home movies. Spanning seven decades, it follows Said from his childhood in Jerusalem in 1935 to his death in New York City in 2003, while examining his experiences of exile, political awakening and intellectual life.

Produced by Sarah Mowaswes, the project is the first documentary made with full access to the Said family and estate. Najla Said, Edward Said's daughter, served as a consulting producer on the film.