43rd Jerusalem Film Festival to Open with Moshe Rosenthal’s “Independence”

The 43rd Jerusalem International Film Festival announced today, Wednesday, that it will open with “Independence,” the new film by director Moshe Rosenthal (“Karaoke”). The festival will take place this year from July 9 to 19, 2026.

The festive opening event will be held on July 9 under the open sky at Sultan’s Pool, before an audience of about 6,000 spectators and guests, with the participation of the filmmakers and cast. The film, produced by Alona Refuah (Green Productions) and United King Films, features an ensemble led by Assi Cohen, one of Israel’s most prominent and beloved actors, in his first leading film role in 15 years. Also starring are Ido Tako, a rising star of Israeli cinema, veteran stage actress Keren Zur, and child actor Yair Mazor in his first screen role.

“Independence” comes to Jerusalem after its world premiere earlier this year at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival, and became the first full-length Israeli narrative film accepted to the American festival in about a decade.

“We are excited to open the 43rd edition of the Jerusalem International Film Festival with ‘Independence,’” said Roni Mahadev-Levin, CEO of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and festival director, and artistic director Orr Sigoli. “The choice of an original and captivating Israeli work as the opening film highlights the festival’s commitment to placing local cinema at the forefront, alongside the rich international program and the Israeli competitions, whose full details will be published soon. We invite the audience to an extraordinary cinematic celebration that will bring the best of cinema from Israel and around the world to Jerusalem.”

The film’s director, Moshe Rosenthal, also shared his feelings ahead of the screening at Sultan’s Pool: “It is a great honor to open the festival with ‘Independence’ and to present the film for the first time to the Israeli audience on this impressive stage. At a time when Israeli cinema is facing challenges on the global stage, the support and platform provided to us by the Jerusalem Festival are more meaningful than ever. ‘Independence’ is a film that takes the personal, the small, and the local and translates it into a cinematic experience designed for the biggest screen. I am excited for the opportunity to celebrate the film and Israeli cinema together with the audience, and to feel the passion and excitement in the air.”