Amos Gitai’s New Film Featuring Rabin and Displaced Bedouins to Premiere at Venice Festival

Amos Gitai, a veteran Israeli filmmaker, has secured a prestigious spot at the 83rd Venice Film Festival this September with his new film "The Journey to Jericho." This announcement was made at a press conference in Rome, marking a significant achievement amid recent international boycotts of Israeli cinema. The film will premiere in Venice’s official selection but outside the competition.

Gitai expressed his excitement to ynet, highlighting the rarity of Israeli films being showcased at major global festivals recently, noting that no Israeli films were featured at Cannes this year. He praised Alberto Barbera, the festival director, for appreciating his work. Gitai has a long history with Venice, having presented seven films there previously, including "Rabin, the Last Day." "The Journey to Jericho" is described as a hybrid documentary blending archival footage and interviews, including conversations with former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin about peace efforts and the Middle East.

The film also features the story of the Arab al-Jahalin Bedouin tribe, displaced from the Negev in 1948 and now living in the West Bank, facing ongoing challenges related to planning, eviction, and community rights. Gitai has followed a school built for the tribe’s children by Italian architects for over a decade.

Alongside Gitai, Israeli author Etgar Keret’s work is adapted by acclaimed Italian director Nanni Moretti in the film "It Will Happen Tonight," competing for the Golden Lion. Israeli director Avi Mograbi will also present a short film outside the competition. The festival jury will be led by Hollywood actress and director Maggie Gyllenhaal.

The festival’s opening film will be "Empire" by Danny Boyle, about media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. Lifetime achievement awards will be given to George Clooney and actress Ellen Burstyn, recognizing their significant contributions to cinema.

Gitai anticipates dialogue rather than protests at Venice, emphasizing the poetic and associative nature of his film, which reflects on historical destruction and contemporary conflicts.