Millions of American Evangelicals are praying for the State of Israel. Pastors encourage an impoverished Kentucky community, “the forgotten people of America,” to donate to Israel in anticipation of Jesus’s impending return. A deep look into the controversial bond between Evangelicals and Jews, in a story of faith, power, and money, revealing how America’s Right is led by an end-times apocalyptic countdown.'Til Kingdom Come2020 | 76 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Maya Zinshtein
Q+A with Maya Zinshtein and producer Abie Troen, moderated by Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, Life/Features Editor of The Forward
NIF Action Guide
Almost half the players on the Israeli National Soccer Team are Muslim, including the captain. The team’s diverse group of players causes controversy, especially during an important European tournament, most of it provoked by racist fans and the media. The players have their loyalty questioned by all sides while trying to guide Israel’s national team through the year’s biggest international challenge.A Common Goal2020 | 52 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Shuki Guzik
Q+A with director Shuki Guzik and screenwriter Shai Lahav, moderated by Erica Shaps
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An in-depth look into the training and activity of soldiers serving at the controversial checkpoints between the Palestinian Authority and Israel. For the first time in their lives, these young Israelis must play a direct role in the conflict. This behind-the-scenes perspective is a glimpse into the process and feelings of the soldiers.Crossings2020 | 88 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Itzik Lerner
Q+A with dir. Itzik Lerner and subject Commander Rotem
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Shortly before her passing, Golda Meir was interviewed for Israeli television. After the filming ended, the cameras kept rolling, recording an intimate talk with the first and only woman to ever rule Israel. As she lit one cigarette after the other, Golda spoke freely, pleading her case for her term as Prime Minister—five turbulent years that secured her place in history, albeit at a high personal cost.Golda2019 | 85 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Sagi Bornstein, Udi Nir, Shani Rozanes
Panel with Udi Nir and author Francine Klagsbrun
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AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee) is the spearhead of the pro-Israeli lobby in the US. What started out as a liberal grassroots organization has become one of the most influential lobby organizations in America. For the past 60 years, AIPAC has maintained a strict “no interview” policy. Now, for the first time, its founding fathers are speaking out, granting full access to the untold story of the organization and to the turbulent relationship between Israel and the US.Kings of Capitol Hill2020 | 90 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Mor Loushy
Q+A with Mor Loushy, moderated by Lara Friedman
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One fateful night in a club in the diverse port city of Haifa, the interweaving stories of five women come together. The film presents a snapshot of contemporary life in one of the last remaining spaces where Israelis and Palestinians come together to engage in face-to-face relationships.Laila in Haifa2020 | 99 minutes | NarrativeDirector: Amos Gitai
Q+A with Amos Gitai, Maria Zreik, Tsahi Halevi, moderated by Richard Peña.
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The Israeli transit camps of the 1950s were a controversial enterprise, housing hundreds of thousands of new immigrants from different parts of the world, transitioning them into becoming part of the Israeli cultural tapestry. The film unravels multiple stories of the camp residents, examining and discovering many surprising new details while shattering stereotypes prevalent in the current Israeli consciousness.Ma'abarot2019 | 84 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Dina Zvi Riklis
Special NIF Film Club program
Q+A with director Dina Zvi Riklis and producer Arik Bernstein
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The story of a friendship between two women—Alice, a Palestinian-Israeli professor, and Maya, a Jewish-Israeli artist. The two women met in Jerusalem as young girls, but grew up taking very different paths.The film spans over 25 years as they struggle to keep their friendship in the midst of their communities’ ever growing conflict.My Dearest Enemy2020 | 100 minutes | NarrativeDirector: Zipora Trope
Q+A part of the Shabbat Night Dinner program. Q+A with Tzipi Trope, moderated by Tzili Charney
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Like all Israeli youth, Atalya is obligated to become a soldier. Unlike most, she questions the practices of her country’s military, and becomes determined to challenge this rite of passage. Despite her family’s political disagreements and the possibility of social backlash and imprisonment, she refuses military duty and takes a stand for justice.Objector2019 | 75 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Molly Stuart
Presented with Encounter and NIF New Gen
Q+A with Molly Stuart and subject Atalaya Ben-Abba
The Druze are an Arabic-speaking religious population scattered around the Middle East that frequently experiences systemic discrimination. The Druze village of Beit Jann has the highest rate of high school graduates in Israel. Until recently, the school had only a 12 percent graduation rate, but now, through dedicated educators, it has climbed to 100 percent. But is this goal worth the extreme measures that are being taken? Do the students possess a real chance for a better future? This is the story of a closed society trying to navigate a changing reality. Q+A will be preceded by Opening Night remarks featuring Mandy Patinkin.One Hundred Percent2019 | 70 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Yael Kipper, Ronen Zaretzky
Opening Night film
Q+A with dir Ronen Zaretzky and subject Jalal Saad
Abdallah and Jehad are athletes and old friends from Gaza whose choices have led them down diverging paths. Abdallah has managed to escape to Italy to pursue his professional parkour career. Jehad still lives in Gaza, caring for his family and training young athletes who see sports as a means of hope and release amidst the conflict.One More Jump2019 | 83 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Emanuele Gerosa
Q+A with Emanuele Gerosa, moderated by Shifra Sered
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The story of Israel’s most radical politician, Rabbi Meir Kahane. The American rabbi’s teachings remain one of the largest influences of Israel’s right wing. Today, thirty years after Kahane himself was barred from Israeli parliament, “Kahanism” has seeped into Israeli society, and Kahane’s prophecy about the divide between Judaism and democracy echoes today in the Knesset halls.The Prophet2019 | 68 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: Ilan Rubin Fields
Panel with Ilan Rubin Fields and expert Shaul Magid.
NIF Action Guide
Mayor is a real-life political saga following Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah, during his second term in office. His immediate goals: repave the sidewalks, attract more tourism, and plan the city’s Christmas celebrations. His ultimate mission: to end the occupation of Palestine. Register for the free Q+A on Mon, Dec 7 at 7pm EST (updated time) here.Special screening: Mayor2020 | 89 minutes | DocumentaryDirector: David Osit
Rich with detailed observation and humor, Mayor offers a portrait of dignity amidst the madness and absurdity of endless occupation while posing the question: how do you run a city when you don’t have a country?
In partnership with Film Forum
Q+A with dir. David Osit, moderated by Batya Ungar-Sargon, Opinion Editor of The Forward Streaming Window:
December 2, 2020 9:00 am - Tickets
A story of friendship between an Arab mechanic and an Israeli young man, who over time is promoted to the position of commander of the West Bank. A clash between settlers and Palestinians threatens this friendship and forces them to reconcile with the powers around them. Inspired by a New York Times article from 1988 regarding an incident that took place in the occupied territories. The Times changed the article three times due to inaccuracies. This inspired writer Marilyn Felt to travel to the West Bank and conduct in-person interviews with the individuals affected by this incident. Asher’s Command is the result of those interviews and is ultimately a story of love, fear, destruction and hope; when unwavering ideology means the loss of family and home. Recording of the play reading available Dec 3, 10AM – Dec 10, 11:45PM ESTAsher's Command play reading2020 | NarrativeDirector: Navid Neghaban
Live Zoom Q+A on Sun, Dec 6, 12PM EST with director/actor Navid Neghaban, moderated by Orin Wolf.
Natasha is participating in a trip to Israel organized to encourage immigration of descendants of Jews. The group arrives at a Bedouin camp in the desert, where two soldiers join them for the night. Co-presented by Generation R. Generation R is supported by The Jewish Federations of North America with generous funding from Genesis Philanthropy Group.Birth Right2019 | 25 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Inbar Horesh
Q+A with Inbar Horesh and actor Nataliya Olshanskaya
A young Arab girl and a Jewish boy are swept away together by the magic of film in 1938 Jerusalem.Cinema Rex2020 | 7 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Mayan Engelman, Eliran Peled
Q+A with Eliran Peled and Mayan Engelman
Five Palestinian workers try to find their place alongside their Jewish-Israeli manager during Israel’s Memorial Day. Another worker who is a refugee from Darfur brings yet another level of complexity to this somber day.Home Constructors2019 | 4 minutes | Documentary ShortDirector: Nitzan Rozen
Q+A with Nitzan Rozen
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In 2014, Israel is at war in Gaza. Uri, a wounded Israeli soldier, is rushed to the hospital where he finds himself unwillingly turned into a war hero. A critical look into the Israeli perceptions of glorification of war and heroism.Image of Victory2019 | 29 minutes | Documentary ShortDirector: Adi Mishnayot
Q+As with Adi Mishnayot
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While her family is away, Michal, a 17-year-old Ethiopian-Israeli girl, looks after her 76-year-old grandmother, Tata, who has dementia. When Michal receives a surprising text saying that her boyfriend has been given leave from the army, she considers changing her plans.Jegna2019 | 9 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Gal Sagy
NIF Action Guide
A soldier in an IDF intelligence unit eavesdrops on a gay Palestinian couple. The complicated relationship between the two fascinates the soldier, and forces him to confront his own sexual identity. Will his feelings conflict with his duty?Listening In2019 | 11 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Omer Sterenberg
Q+A with Omer Sterenberg
Shlomo is an Ethiopian-Israeli struggling to handle intimacy with his girlfriend while dealing with a past trauma. After a dispute with an African migrant, he realizes that only by facing his fear will he get a chance to turn things around.Shlomo2019 | 8 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Ya'aqov Yamsa
Q+A with Ya’aqov Yamsa
In the streets of New York, a young woman is relentlessly, stubbornly and desperately looking for a sofa. Q+A with Noa OsheroffSofa So Good2020 | 12 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Noa Osheroff
Hussein lives in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, and is in desperate need of solace. On the morning of his father’s funeral, his pet deer runs amok, all while the funeral procession is held up at a checkpoint.Soft Grass15 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Shadi Habib Allah
Q+A with Shadi Habib-Allah
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Brother and sister Muhand and Rasha move to a new village, and are subjected to ridicule and scorn because the local children know that their mother was murdered by their father in an “honor killing.”Swing2017 | 11 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Shadi Habib Allah
Q+A with Shadi Habib Allah
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A man finds out that his stolen bicycle now belongs to a stranger. In his attempts to retrieve his bicycle, he struggles to retain his humanity.White Eye2019 | 21 minutes | Narrative ShortDirector: Tomer Shushan
Q+A with Tomer Shushan
NIF Action Guide