43rd Jerusalem Film Festival announces Israeli films to be featured
The 43rd Jerusalem Film Festival will run from July 9-19, featuring a wide range of Israeli feature films, documentaries, and shorts, according to the festival’s announcement. Most of the Israeli program consists of world premieres, and the total prizes for the Israeli and international competitions will be approximately NIS 1 million.
Which film opens the 43rd Jerusalem Film Festival?
The festival opens at Sultan’s Pool with the Israeli premiere of “Tell Me Everything,” directed by Moshe Rosenthal. The event is expected to draw 6,000 guests, according to festival organizers.
Produced by Green Productions and United King Films, the film previously had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. This marked the first time in a decade that a full-length Israeli feature film was included in that festival.
Set in 1987, the plot follows a man named Boaz who discovers a secret about his father, Meir, before his bar mitzvah and later searches for his estranged father nine years later.
What films are in the Haggiag Competition for Israeli Feature Films?
The Haggiag Competition includes several world and Israeli premieres. “How to Feel,” directed by Hadas Ben Aroya, focuses on a relationship between an Israeli dancer and a German poet in Berlin.
“Amal,” directed by David Ofek and Nahad Bashir, depicts a woman’s attempt to stop clan violence and save her son in her village. “The Wedding Entertainer (The Tale of Moishe Badhan),” directed by Gidi Dar, stars Shuli Rand as a former party entertainer battling alcoholism to regain his career.
Other featured films include “Where To,” a debut by Assaf Machnes about a Palestinian Uber driver in Berlin, and Efrat Corem’s “Heart of Gold,” which follows a bus ticket inspector in Ashkelon. Ruthy Pribar’s “What is to Come” will also have its Israeli premiere in Jerusalem.
Which documentaries are featured in the Diamond Competition?
The Diamond Competition for Israeli Documentary Films includes “269,” a film by Keren Yehezkel-Goldstein and Noam Stolerman about an animal-rights movement in Tel Aviv. Yael Abecassis’s “I Am New” documents the rehabilitation of a boy injured in a car accident.
“Good Morning Gaza,” directed by Hanan Brandes and Matan Skopsky, features a reservist tank driver’s podcast for soldiers. Shir Huri-Abu’s “Sarah’s Life” follows a 21-year-old woman who left the haredi world and is unexpectedly pregnant.
Yola Gidron’s “Find Me, OK?” documents the struggle of the family of murdered hostage Eden Yerushalmi. Additionally, the festival will hold a world premiere of David Fisher’s “The Survivor in a Tuxedo: In Search of Elie Wiesel,” a portrait of the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
How is the festival preserving Israeli film history?
The festival is presenting restored digital versions of Uri Barbash’s “Beyond the Walls” and short films “Crows” by Ayelet Menahemi and “A Big Girl” by Nirit Yaron. These screenings are part of a restoration project by the Israel Film Archive at the Jerusalem Cinematheque.
Other competitive categories include the Israeli Short Film Competition, featuring 16 films, where the winner may submit for Academy Award consideration. The Video Art and Experimental Cinema Competition, held with the Mamuta Art and Research Center, will showcase nine works.
The Wim Van Leer Young Creation Competition will provide a platform for debut films created by high school students from across the country.
What happens next for the festival?
Organizers have stated that the international program will be announced soon. This segment is likely to include Israeli premieres of films that have already screened at major festivals such as Cannes, Venice, Berlin, and Toronto.
Ticket information and screening times may be accessed via the official website at https://jff.org.il/en.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the 43rd Jerusalem Film Festival take place?
The festival runs from July 9-19.
How much prize money is available this year?
The total amount of prizes for Israeli and international competitions is approximately NIS 1 million.
Can the short film winners be nominated for an Oscar?
The winner of the best short film prize is eligible to submit the film for Academy Award consideration.
Which of these film themes—historical restoration, contemporary conflict, or personal rehabilitation—do you find most compelling in modern cinema?