Jerusalem Film Festival Unveils 43rd Edition Israeli Lineup

Jerusalem Film Festival organizers announced Tuesday morning the Israeli films that will screen at the 43rd edition of the event, which runs from July 9 to 19. The festival will open with Moshe Rosenthal’s new film "Independence," starring Asi Cohen, Keren Tzur, Yair Mazor and Ido Tako.

In the HaGag Israeli narrative competition, six films were selected: "How to Feel" by Hadass Ben Aroya, "Amal" by David Ofek and Nehad Bshir, "The Joker" by Gidi Dar, starring Shuli Rand, Tsufit Grant-Rand and Tal Friedman, "Where To" by Assaf Machnes, featuring Ihab Elias Salameh and Ido Tako, "A Gold Heart" by Efrat Koram, and "What Is to Come" by Ruti Pe'er-Bar, starring Ronit Yudkevitz.

Five documentaries will compete: "269" by Keren Yehezkeli-Goldstein and Noam Stollerman, "I Am New" by Yael Abecassis, "Good Morning Gaza" by Hanan Brandes and Matan Skopsky, "Sarah's Life" by Shir Khouri-Abu, and "Find Me, Okay?" by Yula Gedron, which follows the mother and sisters of Eden Yerushalmi, who was abducted to Gaza on October 7 and murdered in captivity.

Beyond the main competitions, 16 films will compete in the Israeli short film section and nine works will take part in the video art and experimental cinema competition. The festival will also premiere the documentary "The Tuxedoed Survivor, a Journey After Elie Wiesel," and digitally restored versions of "Behind Bars," "Crows" and "Big Girl." Total prizes at the festival will amount to about 1 million shekels.