Jerusalem Film Festival Unveils International Lineup for 43rd Edition

The Jerusalem Film Festival has announced the international program for its 43rd edition, which will run from July 9 to July 19. The festival will open at the Sultan’s Pool with the world premiere of “Independence,” the new film by Moshe Rosenthal, best known for “Karaoke.” Full festival details and the ticket sale schedule are available on the official festival website.

The international slate includes dozens of feature films across fiction, documentary and experimental sections. According to the festival, more than three quarters of the curated international films are exclusive to the Jerusalem Film Festival, meaning many will be screened in Israel only once. Among the major fiction titles are “Fjord” by Cristian Mungiu, a Cannes Palme d’Or winner starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, and “Yellow Letters” by İlker Çatak, winner of the Golden Bear in Berlin.

Other highlights include “Fathersland,” the new film by Paweł Pawlikowski; “The Black Ball,” a Cannes directing award winner produced by Pedro Almodóvar; “Paper Tiger,” James Gray’s new film with Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson; and “The Samurai and the Prisoner,” the latest by Kiyoshi Kurosawa, which screened in Cannes’ official selection. The program also features “The Christophers” by Steven Soderbergh with Ian McKellen, “The Day She Returned” by Hong Sang-soo, “My Wife Is Crying” by Angela Schanelec, and “Nagi’s Records” by Kôji Fukada.

Documentary cinema will have a strong presence as well, with titles including “Noga,” a film about Israeli musician Noga Erez that screened at Tribeca, “They Have No Mercy,” about women directors through the years, and “Robert Richardson: The White Devil,” about the cinematographer behind “Kill Bill,” “Platoon” and “Shutter Island.” The classics section will honor Roberto Rossellini with a new documentary on him and screenings of “India: Mother Earth,” “Germany Year Zero,” “The Fear,” and “Journey to Italy,” alongside new restorations of “3:10 to Yuma,” Andzhej Wajda’s “The Promised Land,” and “Hotel of the Dead Travelers.”

Screenings will take place at the four halls of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and at Lev Smadar Cinema. More than 20 international guests, including directors, producers and actors, are expected to attend. The full program will go online and ticket sales will open on Friday, June 26.