NEWS
6th Annual “Other Israel Film Festival” in New York Announces Official Line Up and Opening Night Film
6th Annual “Other Israel Film Festival” in New York Announces Official Line Up and Opening Night Film
Festival to run November 8 – 15; Select films to stream making Festival available to audiences nationwide
Media Contact: Julia Pacetti, JMP Verdant, julia@jmpverdant.com, (917) 584– 7846
New York, NY, September 21, 2012 – The 6th Annual Other Israel Film Festival announced today its official 2012 line up. The festival will take place in New York City from November 8-15, featuring New York premieres of acclaimed selections from the Cannes, Venice, Berlin and Toronto film festivals, by and about Arab and minority populations living in Israel. Opening Night will feature first-time director Ami Livne’s Sharqiya, an official selection of the Berlin and Cannes Film Festivals, and winner of top awards at the Jerusalem Film Festival, including best feature film, best cinematographer, and best editor.
Click to view this email in a browser
The line up is as follows.
MAIN SLATE
A BOTTLE IN THE GAZA SEA by Thierry Binisti, France/Israel 2011
AMEER GOT HIS GUN by Naomi Levari, Israel, 2011
ARAB LABOR – SEASON 3 by Shay Kapun Israel, Israel
FREEFLOW by Rami A. Katz Israel, 2011, Documentary, 60 min.
FROM THE BLACK YOU MAKE COLOR by Judy Maltz and Richie Sherman, Israel/USA
ONE DAY AFTER PEACE by Erez Laufer and Miri Laufer, Israel
SHARQIYA by Ami Livne, Israel/France/Germany
TANATHOR – LAST DAYS IN JERUSALEM by Tawfik Abu Wael, Israel/France/Germany/Palestine
TESTIMONY (EDUT) by Shlomi Elkabetz, Israel/France
THE INVISIBLE MEN by Yariv Mozer, Israel
UNIDENTIFIED by Emmanuel Rosen and Tali Rosen, Israel
WHEREVER YOU GO by Rony Sasson Angel, Israel
PRESENT PERSPECTIVES
a compilation of short docs
AN OASIS ON THE HILL by Igal Kohen, Israel
FROM MAN TO MAN, WE PASS LIKE STRANGERS by Daniel Gal, Israel
JERUSALEM ER by Hilla Medalia, Israel
NEW VOICES
a compilation of short fiction films
EYE DROPS by Mohammad Bakri, Israel
HAPPY HOLIDAYS by Luca Marvanyi, Israel
PEACH PITS by Shai Ben-Dov, Israel
THE PROMISED LAND by Vanessa Knutsen, Israel
WILD HORSES by Amit Carp, Israel
Films will screen at The JCC in Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave, and the Cinema Village, 22 E. 12th St., in New York. This year, the festival will offer nationwide access to select films and conversations on its streaming site: OtherIsraelOnDemand.org
The Other Israel Film Festival is the foremost U.S. presenter of new cinematic works that bring into focus the most talked about and controversial topics concerning Israeli society today. The Festival takes understanding beyond the finite viewing experience by offering world-class speakers and talks at the acclaimed SpeakEasy Café conversation series following each screening.
The festival introduces a new program this year, entitled Peace & Reconciliation, featuring Venice Film Festival favorite Testimony (Edut) by award-winning director Shlomi Elkabetz, and One Day After Peace, an official Hot Docs selection, by award-winning documentary filmmakers Miri and Erez Laufer. The festival will also conclude with Rony Sasson Angel’s Wherever You Go, shown with Venice Film Festival Selection Eye Drops by internationally acclaimed director Mohammad Bakri.
Festival organizers indicate that selection was especially difficult this year, with a record breaking number of submissions. The Other Israel Film Festival selection committee includes Carole Zabar, festival founder and long-time supporter of Israeli documentary filmmaking; Isaac Zablocki, Director of The Israel Film Center at The JCC in Manhattan; NY-based film programming and marketing professional Ravit Turjeman, and world-renowned Palestinian-Israeli actor and filmmaker Mohammad Bakri.
Richard Pena, Director, Film Society of Lincoln Center and Professor of the Columbia University Film Department; Richard Lorber, President of Koch Lorber Films; and, Dan Friedman, Managing editor of Forward newspaper, are among the festival's advisory committee.
The 6th Annual Other Israel Film Festival features an array of new works that capture the current zeitgeist of political and social debate in Israel, visit OtherIsrael.org for full program information and updates.
The Other Israel Film Festival explores the diversity of Israeli life with award-winning films and open discussions about people living on the margins of Israeli society. These groups include Israeli Arabs, Christians, Muslims, Bedouins, the Druze, migrant workers, immigrants and others, which together comprise 20% of the country’s population. The Other Israel Film Festival is proud to bring these unique stories to the big screen and help raise awareness in the American public.
The Festival will present 40 programs throughout the week, including a remarkable line up of forward-thinking conversations about the ripped-from-the-headlines topics presented in the films with filmmakers, scholars and special guests in the Other Israel SpeakEasy Café. Festival programs will also include original theater pieces and art exhibits, all to be announced in September.
Past SpeakEasy guests have included Oscar® nominated actress Debra Winger, NY1 host Neil Rosen, renowned historian Professor Benny Morris, and best-selling author Naomi Regan, amongst many other directors, writers, journalists and actors. The SpeakEasy Café aims to further expand audience understanding and consciousness about ideas raised in the films while providing a platform for in-depth discussions and audience interaction with filmmakers, actors and issues affecting Israeli society – and the world.
Tickets for the Other Israel Film Festival go on sale October 11 online at www.OtherIsrael.org or by phone (646) 505-5708.
###
THE OTHER ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL
Official Selections – 2012
MAIN SLATE
A BOTTLE IN THE GAZA SEA
Thierry Binisti
France, Israel, 2011, Narrative, 90 min.
A young French woman living in Jerusalem, develops a turbulent yet tender long-distance friendship with a young Palestinian, in hopes to better understand one another. An engrossing and hopeful drama based on the award-winning novel by Valérie Zenatti Starring Hiam Abbas.
AMEER GOT HIS GUN
Naomi Levari
Israel, 2011, Documentary, 58 min. N.Y. Premiere
Ameer is a Muslim Arab about to enlist in to the Israeli army. He believes this is a path towards equality and belonging in the Jewish state. On his journey, he carefully navigates the thin line between Jewish and Arab societies in Israel.
Tue. Nov. 13, 7:00pm at The JCC In Manhattan
Wed. Nov. 14, 9:00pm at the Cinema Village
ARAB LABOR – SEASON 3
Shay Kapun
Israel, 2012, TV Narrative, 48 min. N.Y. Premiere
The wildly popular, irreverent and acclaimed series by author Sayed Kashua, is back with a third hilariously entertaining season. Tune in for Amjad and his family's adventures as they make constant efforts to fit in after relocating from their Arab village to the heart of Jerusalem.
FREEFLOW
Rami A. Katz
Israel, 2011, Documentary, 60 min. U.S. Premiere
The story of a mother of six in a provincial town, fighting to keep her family together with sheer courage and wisdom. Her eldest son dropped out of school and has created an alternative reality for himself in which he is a daredevil putting his energy into the physical sport of Parkour.
FROM THE BLACK YOU MAKE COLOR
Judy Maltz and Richie Sherman
Israel, USA, 2012, Documentary, 72 Min. Special Director’s Presentation
At Tel-Aviv’s oldest beauty academy, a group of students speak seven different languages yet somehow find a common language. The eight characters focus upon in the film share common trials and bring unique and varied life stories to their new environment.
ONE DAY AFTER PEACE
Erez Laufer and Miri Laufer
Official Selection – Hot Docs
Israel, 2012, Documentary, 86 min. N.Y. Premiere
Robi Damelin, a bereaved Israeli mother, tries to contact her son’s killer, who is now serving time in an Israeli prison, to launch a dialogue with him and his parents. When the Palestinian refuses, Robi decides to return to South Africa to see how the country where she was born embarked on achieving forgiveness and reconciliation after decades of apartheid.
SHARQIYA
Ami Livne
Israel, France, Germany, 2012, Narrative, 82 min. N.Y. Premiere
Kamel lives with his brother and sister-in-law at the edge of the Negev desert on land that has belonged to their Bedouin family since the Ottoman Empire. when state officials order the demolition of the few shacks where the family resides, Kamel must come up with a plan to save his home.
TANATHOR – LAST DAYS IN JERUSALEM
Tawfik Abu Wael
Israel, France, Germany, Palestine, 2011, Narrative, 80 min.
Nour and Iyad, a Palestinian couple living in East Jerusalem, are getting ready to move to Paris. He is a surgeon and she is a budding actress. On the way to the airport, an accident delays their departure. Nour starts to question their future move.
TESTIMONY (EDUT)
Shlomi Elkabetz
Israel, France, 2011, Narrative, 80 min. U.S. Premiere
Testimonies of soldiers and Palestinians are presented with visual brilliance by some of Israel’s top actors. A dozen unspoken stories from the lives of Palestinians and Israelis make up an Israeli collective conscience, presenting both sides of the same narrative.
THE INVISIBLE MEN
Yariv Mozer
Israel, 2012, Documentary, 67 min. N.Y. Premiere
The untold story of gay Palestinians who were persecuted in their communities and are now hiding illegally in Tel Aviv. Their only chance for survival is to seek asylum outside Israel and Palestine, to leave their homeland behind forever.
UNIDENTIFIED
Emmanuel Rosen and Tali Rosen
Israel, 2012, Documentary, 48 min. U.S. Premiere
The stories of talented young Israeli Arab women who are stuck between two cultures, unable to belong to the community and tradition in which they were raised, nor to Israeli Jewish society. These vibrant women grapple with love, work, and the dilemmas of the modern world.
WHEREVER YOU GO
Rony Sasson Angel
Israel, 2011, Narrative, 40 min. U.S. Premiere
Two women's lives intertwine: one is on her way to see her estranged Jewish Orthodox family; the other is on the run from her Bedouin family who is forcing her into a life without choice. Together, they stand up against their predetermined destinies.
PRESENT PERSPECTIVES
N.Y. Premieres of Documentary Shorts
Various Directors, 52 min.
AN OASIS ON THE HILL
Igal Kohen
Israel, 12 min.
Two friends, an Arab and a Jew from Neve Shalom Village (Oasis of Peace), reach the pivotal age of 18.
FROM MAN TO MAN, WE PASS LIKE STRANGERS
Daniel Gal
Israel, 23 min.
The new train in Jerusalem shown with a diverse audience of Jews, Arabs, religious, and secular.
JERUSALEM ER
Hilla Medalia
Israel, 17 min.
The experiences of Arab and Jewish doctors in Jerusalem's Hadasah hospital.
NEW VOICES
N.Y. Premieres of Narrative Shorts
Various Directors, 2012, 81 min.
EYE DROPS
Mohammad Bakri
Israel, 2012, Narrative, 23 min. U.S. Premiere
An encounter between a holocaust survivor and an Arab actor who lives in Tel Aviv with his two sons, during the second intifada.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS
Luca Marvanyi
Israel, 28 min.
Christmas. Two Hungarian sisters living in Israel are torn by their Jewish/Christian identities.
PEACH PITS
Shai Ben-Dov
Israel, 11 min.
A mysterious man reads the future for a fortuneteller.
THE PROMISED LAND
Vanessa Knutsen
Israel, 15 min.
A migrant worker takes refuge at her boss' house for the Seder.
WILD HORSES
Amit Carp
Israel, 27 min.
A dysfunctional relationship between a father and a son who raise horses, in the shadow of a tragedy.
ABOUT THE OTHER ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL
Founded in 2007, The Other Israel Film Festival uses film to foster social awareness and cultural understanding. The Festival presents dramatic and documentary films, as well as engaging panels about history, culture, and identity on the topic of minority populations in Israel with a focus on Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up twenty percent of Israel’s population. The goal of the Festival is to promote awareness and appreciation of the diversity of the state of Israel, provide a dynamic and inclusive forum for exploration of, and dialogue about populations in margins of Israeli society, and encourage cinematic expression and creativity dealing with these themes. Programming is guided by our mission to showcase world-class cinema that brings to the big screen the human stories and daily lives of Arab Citizens and other minorities groups in Israel, often overlooked by mainstream Israeli society and culture.
For more information contact:
Julia Pacetti
President
JMP Verdant Communications
(917) 584-7846
julia@jmpverdant.com
