Arava Film Festival to Showcase International and Israeli Cinema Under the Stars

The 15th International Arava Film Festival will take place from November 4 to 14 in the Arava Desert, near the settlement of Tsukim. For the first time, screenings will be held simultaneously at two outdoor venues, allowing for a significantly expanded program. The festival will feature nine Israeli premieres of foreign films, selections from major international film festivals, Israeli cinema, and a retrospective of Billy Wilder's work.

Key highlights include the screening of "The Minotaur" by Russian director Andrey Zvyagintsev, a Cannes Grand Prix winner. Also featured are Cristian Mungiu's "Fjord" starring Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve, "Fatherland" by the director who won an award for directing at Cannes, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi's "All of Us Strangers" with Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto. The French premiere of Florian Zeller's psychological thriller "The Bunker," starring Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, which competed at the Venice Film Festival, will also be shown.

Other premieres include the Danish drama "The Unknown Woman" by Mai al-Toukh, winner of the Venice Golden Lion, Reed Van Dyck's "Redemption" with Hiam Abbass and Kenneth Branagh, and Peter Farrelly's biopic "I Play Rocky" about Sylvester Stallone's early career. The festival will also present "The Teachers' Lounge" by German-Turkish director Ilker Çatak, a Golden Bear winner at Berlin, and the Georgian drama "A House in Jerusalem" by Levan Koghuashvili. Koghuashvili and members of his cast and crew are expected to attend.

The festival will dedicate a special section to the retrospective of American director Billy Wilder, screening four of his films: "Double Indemnity," "Sabrina," "Some Like It Hot," and "The Apartment." This retrospective honors the memory of film critic and artistic consultant Edna Fainaru, who passed away in June 2026 and had long collaborated with her husband Dan Fainaru on the festival's program. Restored versions of Ingmar Bergman's "The Seventh Seal," Sergio Leone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," and Martin Scorsese's "After Hours" will also be screened.

The opening on November 4 will focus on Israeli films supported by the Negev Film Fund, including Ruti Pribar's "The Future" and Shiran Shaharbani's "Zebras," which explore life and relationships against the backdrop of desert landscapes. Short films by local directors, including women from the Negev's Bedouin community supported by a filmmaking program, will also be shown. Films for children and teenagers, including animated features and the classic musical "Mary Poppins," are also scheduled. For the tenth time, an educational seminar for Israeli film students will be held.

The Arava International Film Festival has been held since 2012 in the Ashush Nature Reserve, known for its open-air screenings among rocks and desert scenery, and opportunities for audiences to meet filmmakers.