Jerusalem Film Festival artistic director Elad Samorzik will depart from his role later this year, with programmer, critic and author Orr Sigoli taking over the position.
Samorzik, who has been artistic director of the festival since late 2013, will work alongside Sigoli on the 2024 edition as outgoing artistic director.
The 41st Jerusalem Film Festival will run from July 18-28 – the first official indication that the festival is moving forwards with plans for this year, despite war in the region since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza.
A popular figure in the Israeli and international industry,...
Samorzik, who has been artistic director of the festival since late 2013, will work alongside Sigoli on the 2024 edition as outgoing artistic director.
The 41st Jerusalem Film Festival will run from July 18-28 – the first official indication that the festival is moving forwards with plans for this year, despite war in the region since the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, and subsequent Israeli invasion of Gaza.
A popular figure in the Israeli and international industry,...
- 2/5/2024
- ScreenDaily
Jerusalem Film Festival Artistic Director Elad Samorzik has announced his departure from the role later this year after ten editions in the role, to be replaced by Orr Sigoli.
Sigoli and Samorzik will work together on the next edition, scheduled to unfold from July 18 to 28, with the latter continuing to working for the next few months as Outgoing Artistic Director.
“After a decade at the festival, I have decided to leave my position and move on to new challenges. It was an incredible honor to serve as Artistic Director of the Jerusalem Film Festival for so many years and work with a team that became such a meaningful part of my life,” said Samorzik.
“I have known Orr Sigoli for many years; he is a true cinephile and I am certain that the festival will benefit greatly from his deep commitment to the art of film.”
Samorzik took up the...
Sigoli and Samorzik will work together on the next edition, scheduled to unfold from July 18 to 28, with the latter continuing to working for the next few months as Outgoing Artistic Director.
“After a decade at the festival, I have decided to leave my position and move on to new challenges. It was an incredible honor to serve as Artistic Director of the Jerusalem Film Festival for so many years and work with a team that became such a meaningful part of my life,” said Samorzik.
“I have known Orr Sigoli for many years; he is a true cinephile and I am certain that the festival will benefit greatly from his deep commitment to the art of film.”
Samorzik took up the...
- 2/5/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
More than 2,000 Israeli film and TV industry figures have signed the letter.
More than 2,000 Israeli film and TV industry figures have penned an open letter to the international entertainment community urging their support in a push to release hostages taken by Hamas during the terror attacks on October 7.
Filmmakers Hagai Levi, Ayelet Menahemi, Ari Folman, Joseph Cedar, Michal Vinik, Jasmine Kainy, Eliran Peled and Nadav Lapid joined Euphoria creator Ron Leshem, Israel Film Fund CEO Noa Regev and a slew of other executives and talent for the letter addressed to “our dearest friends in the international film and television community...
More than 2,000 Israeli film and TV industry figures have penned an open letter to the international entertainment community urging their support in a push to release hostages taken by Hamas during the terror attacks on October 7.
Filmmakers Hagai Levi, Ayelet Menahemi, Ari Folman, Joseph Cedar, Michal Vinik, Jasmine Kainy, Eliran Peled and Nadav Lapid joined Euphoria creator Ron Leshem, Israel Film Fund CEO Noa Regev and a slew of other executives and talent for the letter addressed to “our dearest friends in the international film and television community...
- 10/27/2023
- by Rebecca Leffler
- ScreenDaily
Jerusalem Film Festival Unveils Israeli Competition As It Gears Up For First Full Edition Since 2019
The Jerusalem Film Festival has unveiled the line-up for its Israeli feature film competition as well as all the other local productions selected to screen in its 39th edition, running 21-31.
The event returns to its traditional July dates for the first time since 2019 this year, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced it online in 2020 and pushed it into August and prevented it from inviting international guests in 2021.
This edition is being piloted by Jerusalem Cinematheque manager Roni Mahadav-Levin and artistic director Elad Samorzik, following the departure earlier this year of longtime cinematheque and festival director Noa Regev to head up the Israel Film Fund. Her replacement will be decided after this year’s edition.
World premieres in the Israeli competition include Michal Vinik’s drama Valeria Is Getting Married about two Ukrainian sisters who travel to Israel for marriage. It is Vinik’s first solo feature since 2015 festival breakout Blush.
The event returns to its traditional July dates for the first time since 2019 this year, after the Covid-19 pandemic forced it online in 2020 and pushed it into August and prevented it from inviting international guests in 2021.
This edition is being piloted by Jerusalem Cinematheque manager Roni Mahadav-Levin and artistic director Elad Samorzik, following the departure earlier this year of longtime cinematheque and festival director Noa Regev to head up the Israel Film Fund. Her replacement will be decided after this year’s edition.
World premieres in the Israeli competition include Michal Vinik’s drama Valeria Is Getting Married about two Ukrainian sisters who travel to Israel for marriage. It is Vinik’s first solo feature since 2015 festival breakout Blush.
- 6/30/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
Protagonist Pictures holds international sales rights.
Roadside Attractions has acquired its third Sundance 2022 film, taking US rights to Premieres selection Call Jane starring Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver.
Phyllis Nagy’s film follows a woman in late 1960s Chicago who wants to terminate her pregnancy for health reasons at a time when United States laws made it very difficult for women to get an abortion. Her life changes when she discovers a safe, underground service run by women.
The cast includes Wunmi Mosaku, Chris Messina, Kate Mara, Cory Michael Smith, Grace Edwards and John Magaro. Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi...
Roadside Attractions has acquired its third Sundance 2022 film, taking US rights to Premieres selection Call Jane starring Elizabeth Banks and Sigourney Weaver.
Phyllis Nagy’s film follows a woman in late 1960s Chicago who wants to terminate her pregnancy for health reasons at a time when United States laws made it very difficult for women to get an abortion. Her life changes when she discovers a safe, underground service run by women.
The cast includes Wunmi Mosaku, Chris Messina, Kate Mara, Cory Michael Smith, Grace Edwards and John Magaro. Hayley Schore and Roshan Sethi...
- 2/4/2022
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Regev has been the CEO of the Jerusalem Cinematheque since 2013.
Jerusalem Cinematheque CEO Noa Regev has been appointed as the new CEO of the Israel Film Fund (Iff) and is due to take up the role at the beginning of April.
She replaces veteran producer and broadcast executive Lisa Shiloach-Uzrad, who spent two-and-a-half years in the role having succeeded long-time executive director Katriel Schory in 2019.
Regev has been CEO of the Jerusalem Cinematheque since 2013. She took over the organisation at a delicate point in its history as its hands-on founder Lia Van Leer, who was then in her late 80s,...
Jerusalem Cinematheque CEO Noa Regev has been appointed as the new CEO of the Israel Film Fund (Iff) and is due to take up the role at the beginning of April.
She replaces veteran producer and broadcast executive Lisa Shiloach-Uzrad, who spent two-and-a-half years in the role having succeeded long-time executive director Katriel Schory in 2019.
Regev has been CEO of the Jerusalem Cinematheque since 2013. She took over the organisation at a delicate point in its history as its hands-on founder Lia Van Leer, who was then in her late 80s,...
- 2/4/2022
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Seven years in the making, the Jerusalem Cinematheque is now ready to launch an English-language on-demand digital version of its Israel Film Archive.
The archive, based in a climate-controlled film centre adjacent to Jerusalem’s Old City walls, holds 96% of all features ever produced in Israel. To date, it has largely served cultural institutions, researchers, and filmmakers in Israel and abroad.
From Monday October 18, the Archive is being opened for people to search and stream on demand from around the world. The opening follows a $10M preservation, restoration, and digitization process begun in 2015.
The materials on the new site will all be translated, tagged, and searchable in English by keyword or phrase, year, landmark, and location.
The Archive holds around 32,000 titles, including a new print of Otto Preminger epic Exodus starring Paul Newman. Among the site’s main projects in recent years has been the restoration of 16mm original...
The archive, based in a climate-controlled film centre adjacent to Jerusalem’s Old City walls, holds 96% of all features ever produced in Israel. To date, it has largely served cultural institutions, researchers, and filmmakers in Israel and abroad.
From Monday October 18, the Archive is being opened for people to search and stream on demand from around the world. The opening follows a $10M preservation, restoration, and digitization process begun in 2015.
The materials on the new site will all be translated, tagged, and searchable in English by keyword or phrase, year, landmark, and location.
The Archive holds around 32,000 titles, including a new print of Otto Preminger epic Exodus starring Paul Newman. Among the site’s main projects in recent years has been the restoration of 16mm original...
- 10/12/2021
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Festivals
This year’s 38th Jerusalem Film Festival will host a tribute to iconic Israeli company Cannon Films and producers Yoram Globus and Menachem Golan, curated in collaboration with Quentin Tarantino. The Cannon Film Group produced and distributed films from 1967 to 1993. In ’79 the company was purchased by producer Globus and Golan, who tailored its production slate through the ‘80s, focusing heavily on action films. Along the way Cannon became one of the world’s leading independent production companies.
Jerusalem’s tribute will include eight films produced by the company, presented in 35mm. On Aug. 26, Tarantino will head a panel discussion about the history of Cannon Films ahead of screenings of “The Ambassador” (1984) and a double feature of “Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects” (1989) and “The Naked Cage” (1986). Other titles screening in the program include “The Delta Force” (1986), “Death Wish 4” (1987) and “10 to Midnight” (1983).
“We are certain Mr. Tarantino will offer interesting and...
This year’s 38th Jerusalem Film Festival will host a tribute to iconic Israeli company Cannon Films and producers Yoram Globus and Menachem Golan, curated in collaboration with Quentin Tarantino. The Cannon Film Group produced and distributed films from 1967 to 1993. In ’79 the company was purchased by producer Globus and Golan, who tailored its production slate through the ‘80s, focusing heavily on action films. Along the way Cannon became one of the world’s leading independent production companies.
Jerusalem’s tribute will include eight films produced by the company, presented in 35mm. On Aug. 26, Tarantino will head a panel discussion about the history of Cannon Films ahead of screenings of “The Ambassador” (1984) and a double feature of “Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects” (1989) and “The Naked Cage” (1986). Other titles screening in the program include “The Delta Force” (1986), “Death Wish 4” (1987) and “10 to Midnight” (1983).
“We are certain Mr. Tarantino will offer interesting and...
- 8/13/2021
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
The festival unfolded mainly online with special socially distanced screenings for Israeli works.
Ukrainian producer and director Valentyn Vasyanovych’s drama Atlantis has won best film at the 37th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival (Jff), which is running as an online event December 10-20 due to Israel’s ongoing Covid-19 lockdown.
Set in war-torn eastern Ukraine in the near future, the film revolves around a former soldier suffering from Ptsd, who is trying to rebuild his life against the backdrop of his environmentally devastated homeland.
It is Vasyanovych’s third feature and Ukraine’s submission to the best international film category of the 2021 Oscars.
Ukrainian producer and director Valentyn Vasyanovych’s drama Atlantis has won best film at the 37th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival (Jff), which is running as an online event December 10-20 due to Israel’s ongoing Covid-19 lockdown.
Set in war-torn eastern Ukraine in the near future, the film revolves around a former soldier suffering from Ptsd, who is trying to rebuild his life against the backdrop of his environmentally devastated homeland.
It is Vasyanovych’s third feature and Ukraine’s submission to the best international film category of the 2021 Oscars.
- 12/16/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
After being postponed twice, the 37th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival will take place Dec. 10-20. Due to the pandemic, the festival will be held mostly virtually, with the intent of hosting some physical screenings in compliance with the health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and local authorities.
The fest will kick off with Eytan Fox’s “Sublet,” which had its world premiere at Tribeca, and will wrap with Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affair(s),” which was part of Cannes 2020’s Official Selection.
This year’s edition will showcase more than 80 films and will hold six competitive sections. The virtual screenings will be held in partnership with Festival Scope and Shift72.
“We believe there is no substitute for the actual encounters (…). However, due to this year’s unique conditions, and out of a deep commitment to our audience and filmmakers in Israel and abroad, we decided to...
The fest will kick off with Eytan Fox’s “Sublet,” which had its world premiere at Tribeca, and will wrap with Emmanuel Mouret’s “Love Affair(s),” which was part of Cannes 2020’s Official Selection.
This year’s edition will showcase more than 80 films and will hold six competitive sections. The virtual screenings will be held in partnership with Festival Scope and Shift72.
“We believe there is no substitute for the actual encounters (…). However, due to this year’s unique conditions, and out of a deep commitment to our audience and filmmakers in Israel and abroad, we decided to...
- 11/11/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The Jerusalem Film Festival (Jff) has shelved plans to host its latest edition August 20-30, and instead will look to hold a winter edition of the event this year, running December 10-20.
The Israeli fest had been set to become of the first international film festivals to hold a physical incarnation following the spate of cancellations and postponements this summer prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Jff team had been confident that they would be able to go ahead, but the country is now experiencing one of the world’s worst second waves of the virus after a dramatic spike in recent cases. When the country’s lockdown was repealed in May, its daily rate of infection was in the double digits, and that has now risen more than 500% and is exceeding 1,300 daily.
As such, organizers were left with little choice but to postpone, despite having already finalized a program...
The Israeli fest had been set to become of the first international film festivals to hold a physical incarnation following the spate of cancellations and postponements this summer prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. The Jff team had been confident that they would be able to go ahead, but the country is now experiencing one of the world’s worst second waves of the virus after a dramatic spike in recent cases. When the country’s lockdown was repealed in May, its daily rate of infection was in the double digits, and that has now risen more than 500% and is exceeding 1,300 daily.
As such, organizers were left with little choice but to postpone, despite having already finalized a program...
- 7/13/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
After a number of attempts to delay this year’s Jerusalem Film Festival, organizers have now scrapped plans for a summer edition following a recent spike in Covid-19 cases in Israel, which has resulted in new restrictions from the Ministry of Health on gatherings of large groups, expected to last several months.
Instead, a winter edition is now in the works for Dec. 10-20. The new event will include several films selected for the original summer festival as well as new titles ready to launch this winter. Jff is also developing a series of online programs intended to showcase festival selected titles on the Jerusalem Cinematheque-Israel Film Archive’s streaming platform.
“This is a difficult and painful decision as we have been working on the 37th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival over the course of the past year,” said Noa Regev, director of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and Jerusalem Film Festival,...
Instead, a winter edition is now in the works for Dec. 10-20. The new event will include several films selected for the original summer festival as well as new titles ready to launch this winter. Jff is also developing a series of online programs intended to showcase festival selected titles on the Jerusalem Cinematheque-Israel Film Archive’s streaming platform.
“This is a difficult and painful decision as we have been working on the 37th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival over the course of the past year,” said Noa Regev, director of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and Jerusalem Film Festival,...
- 7/13/2020
- by Jamie Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Festival team hopes to run a winter edition in December if health conditions permit.
The Jerusalem Film Festival (Jff) has halted its plans to run a delayed physical edition at the end of August, following a surge in Covid-19 cases in Israel in recent weeks, which in turn has led to fresh restrictions on large-scale gatherings.
The festival management team issued a statement on Monday (July 13) stating it had stopped its preparations for its upcoming edition, which had been due to take place from August 20-30.
They added, however, that they hoped instead to hold a winter edition between December...
The Jerusalem Film Festival (Jff) has halted its plans to run a delayed physical edition at the end of August, following a surge in Covid-19 cases in Israel in recent weeks, which in turn has led to fresh restrictions on large-scale gatherings.
The festival management team issued a statement on Monday (July 13) stating it had stopped its preparations for its upcoming edition, which had been due to take place from August 20-30.
They added, however, that they hoped instead to hold a winter edition between December...
- 7/13/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦69¦
- ScreenDaily
While many fests have been canceled this year due to the coronavirus crisis, the Jerusalem Film Festival has postponed its 37th edition to kick off Aug. 20.
The festival, which was initially scheduled to take place in mid-July will instead run Aug. 20-30, in compliance with the health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and local authorities. Israel has recently started to lift its restrictions on gatherings.
“The decision to hold this year’s festival was made out of our deep sense of commitment toward our audience members and the filmmakers whose brand new films have yet to be seen,” said Noa Regev, the director of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and the Jerusalem Film Festival.
“We are all eager to venture beyond our homes and return to the world of cinemas and culture, which form such an integral part of our lives.”
The Jerusalem Film Festival — Israel’s biggest film event...
The festival, which was initially scheduled to take place in mid-July will instead run Aug. 20-30, in compliance with the health guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and local authorities. Israel has recently started to lift its restrictions on gatherings.
“The decision to hold this year’s festival was made out of our deep sense of commitment toward our audience members and the filmmakers whose brand new films have yet to be seen,” said Noa Regev, the director of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and the Jerusalem Film Festival.
“We are all eager to venture beyond our homes and return to the world of cinemas and culture, which form such an integral part of our lives.”
The Jerusalem Film Festival — Israel’s biggest film event...
- 5/26/2020
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
The film explores the birth of Israel’s controversial religious political party Shas in the 1980s.
The 35th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival (Jff) opened on Thursday evening (July 26) with Israeli director Eliran Malka’s debut feature The Unorthodox, exploring the events leading up to the birth of Israel’s controversial religious political party Shas in the 1980s.
Festival director Noa Regev and Jff artistic director Elad Samorzik’s decision to select a picture by a first-time director with a religious background was seen as bold move given the festival’s traditionally secular atmosphere, but it appears to be have paid off.
The 35th edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival (Jff) opened on Thursday evening (July 26) with Israeli director Eliran Malka’s debut feature The Unorthodox, exploring the events leading up to the birth of Israel’s controversial religious political party Shas in the 1980s.
Festival director Noa Regev and Jff artistic director Elad Samorzik’s decision to select a picture by a first-time director with a religious background was seen as bold move given the festival’s traditionally secular atmosphere, but it appears to be have paid off.
- 7/27/2018
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Jerusalem Film Festival’s industry sidebar, Pitch Point, has unveiled its selection of projects, including new works from Avishai Sivan, Shira Geffen (“Jellyfish”), Keren Yedaya (“My Treasure”), and Tawfik Abu Wael (“Atash”).
Among the 10 projects selected for Pitch Point is “Lot’s Wife,” Sivan’s follow-up to “Tikkun,” which won the top prize at the Jerusalem fest in 2015. Set up at Ronen Ben Tal at Plan b Productions, “Lot’s Wife” centers on a religious couple who, after 10 years of childlessness, has a child born with two heads, named Noah and Lot. Lot is wicked, Noah good-hearted. After Noah dies and his head is detached, Lot sets on a challenge to overcome his nature.
Geffen will present “A Responsible Adult,” which is being produced by Elad Gavish at Marker Films.The project follows Maya, a 13-year-old girl who goes on a school trip and whose father joins the group as...
Among the 10 projects selected for Pitch Point is “Lot’s Wife,” Sivan’s follow-up to “Tikkun,” which won the top prize at the Jerusalem fest in 2015. Set up at Ronen Ben Tal at Plan b Productions, “Lot’s Wife” centers on a religious couple who, after 10 years of childlessness, has a child born with two heads, named Noah and Lot. Lot is wicked, Noah good-hearted. After Noah dies and his head is detached, Lot sets on a challenge to overcome his nature.
Geffen will present “A Responsible Adult,” which is being produced by Elad Gavish at Marker Films.The project follows Maya, a 13-year-old girl who goes on a school trip and whose father joins the group as...
- 7/2/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
’The Unorthodox’ is the debut feature from the director of Israeli series Shababnikim.
The 35th Jerusalem Film Festival (July 26 – August 5) will open with the world premiere of Eliran Malka’s religious tale The Unorthodox.
The debut feature from the creator of Israeli TV series Shababnikim is set in Jerusalem in 1983 and follows the founding of the first ethnic political group in the city, the Shas (Sephardic Guardians) party, which still exists today. The film stars Shuli Rand (Marco Polo: The Missing Chapter) in the lead role.
Closing this year’s event will be Wes Anderson’s stop-motion animation Isle Of Dogs,...
The 35th Jerusalem Film Festival (July 26 – August 5) will open with the world premiere of Eliran Malka’s religious tale The Unorthodox.
The debut feature from the creator of Israeli TV series Shababnikim is set in Jerusalem in 1983 and follows the founding of the first ethnic political group in the city, the Shas (Sephardic Guardians) party, which still exists today. The film stars Shuli Rand (Marco Polo: The Missing Chapter) in the lead role.
Closing this year’s event will be Wes Anderson’s stop-motion animation Isle Of Dogs,...
- 6/20/2018
- by Tom Grater
- ScreenDaily
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