Even before the war, cinema was never really a part of everyday life in Gaza. Most movie theaters disappeared decades ago and the culture of cinemagoing has faded from the lives of the younger generations. But this war has taken far more from children than just the few remaining movie theaters. They have lost schools, libraries, parks, football pitches—all of the places where kids are supposed to be able to experience the world without fear.

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Since the beginning of the genocide, the majority of Gaza’s cultural centers have been heavily damaged or destroyed entirely. Artistic and educational programs that once provided an outlet for young people have largely ground to a halt. Education has also been heavily disrupted. Most schools have been destroyed, while the ones that remain standing have been turned into shelters for displaced people. Hundreds of thousands of children have been out of school for almost three years.…