Other Israel Film Festival Goes Virtual for the First Time

The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s 14th Annual Other Israel Film Festival will highlight some of the top cinema from Israel, coupled with meaningful discussion on the future of the region.

The week-long festival will take place online from December 3-10, 2020. Over 20 feature-length and short films will be available for ticket holders to stream during the festival, examining timely and impactful themes such as Israel and the Diaspora, Israel and the military, education, Israeli leaders, and more. Screenings ​will be accompanied by notable guests and interactive conversations.

The Other Israel Film Festival, founded in 2007, presents cinema that inspires conversation and takes an in-depth look into Israeli and Palestinian societies and underrepresented populations in Israel. The festival explores human stories and social issues for Israel and its neighbors through dramatic and documentary films, as well as panels and events about history, culture, and identity. The festival aims to engage the community, deepen its views, challenge its perspectives, and drive it to action.

Highlights from the 14th Annual Other Israel Film Festival Include feature films such as One Hundred Percent, winner of the best documentary award at the Jerusalem Film Festival, which follows a small school in a marginalized Druze village with the highest graduation rate in the country. Legendary director Amos Gitai will feature his latest film, ​Laila in Haifa, ​which premiered at this year’s Venice Film Festival. The festival will also re-examine Israeli political history with films like the NY premiere of ​Golda​, which scrutinizes some of the critical decisions made by the legendary leader; and The Prophet​, about the controversial Rabbi Meir Kahane. The delicate relationship between America and Israel is highlighted in a few films such as ​Kings of Capitol Hill​, which follows the polarization of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC; and ​‘Til Kingdom Come​, which takes an in-depth look at the American Evangelical support of Israel.

“Through dozens of films and conversations, Other Israel will take a deep dive into Israel’s Arab and other underrepresented populations,” says Carole Zabar, founder of the festival. “We present other narratives and new perspectives with the hope of enlightening and challenging our audiences.”

Along with the on-demand screenings, the festival will feature Q&As with the filmmakers and panel discussions to create a welcoming dialogue about underrepresented populations, the Middle East conflict, and more.

“This year’s lineup is our most diverse to date, and we will explore Israeli society like never before,” says Isaac Zablocki, director of the festival. “This is the third film festival that the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is running virtually, and we are excited to use technology to make our community and the conversation to new levels.”

The full, week-long festival pass is available for $90 and includes access to all conversations and films, which can be streamed on-demand during the event. Access to individual screenings is $13 per film.

Main link: https://www.otherisrael.org

YouTube trailer link: https://youtu.be/Slk1Ptrc38Y

New York Jewish Guide