5 new Israeli films, supported by Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, will be screened at the Berlinale. Sand Storm, winner of the Sundance World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, is one of them. 

"Defining ourselves through the definition of the Other has become a formative part of our communication with the world around us and our perception and relationship with it. It contributes to the widening of gaps, and distances us from the possibility of creating dialogue with the different communities and cultures in our midst. I believe that by revealing the stories of different social groups, it is possible to open a window towards breaking down stereotypes and promoting dialogue between different communities and identity groups".

Ziv Nave, Director General
 

Gesher Multicultural Film Fund

Sand Storm

Winner World Cinema Grand Jury Prize, Sundance 2016

Berlinale Panorama 

Director: Elite Zexer

As wedding festivities get underway in a Bedouin village in Southern Israel, Jalila finds herself in the awkward position of hosting her husband Suliman's marriage to a second, much younger wife. During the celebration, Jalila stumbles across her eldest daughter Layla's involvement with a boy from her university - a strictly forbidden liaison that would shame the family. Burying the indignity of Suliman and his new bride living next door, Jalila also tries to contain Layla's situation by clamping down on her. But younger and possessed of a boundless spirit, Layla sees a different life for herself...

Junction 48

Berlinale Panorama 

Director: Udi Aloni

Junction 48 is the love story of two young Palestinian hip-hop artists who use their music to fight against both the external oppression of Israeli society and the internal repression of their own crime-ridden, conservative community. It depicts a new generation of young Arabs who seek normality through their love and music - and against all odds

Who's Gonna Love Me Now

Berlinale Panorama

Directors: Tomer Heymann & Barak Heymann

Saar is an HIV positive gay man living in London, 

where he found refuge from the religious kibbutz that 

he grew up in. Saar is craving his family's love, while they struggle with fears and prejudices. Saar and the rest of the London Gay Men's Chorus provide a glorious soundtrack for this documentary about the power of forgiveness and the power that home has, no matter how far we go.

Cafe Nagler

Berlinale Culinary Cinema

Director: Mor Kaplanski

Co-director: Yariv Barel

During the 1920s, Café Nagler was the hottest place in Berlin. The director embarks on a journey to find out what's left of the legendary café owned by her family. What happens when a grand family tale meets reality? 

The Writer

Berlinale Special Series section

Script: Sayed Kashua, Director: Shay Capon

The new drama series from the creative duo of the phenomenal series "Arab Labor" tells the auto fictional story of a Palestinian Israeli writer struggling with an identity crisis, which affects his and his whole family's sense of belonging and nationality.

Spotlight on special project OUT OF PLACE

OUT OF PLACE is a special project of  short documentary films which present different and diverse cinematic perspectives, tackling subject matter such as unprecedented socio-economic challenges of inequality, mass-scale immigration, ethnic, gender and religious clashes,  the project aims to promote stories of diversity; the rewards and challenges of everyday cooperation of different people living together

OUT OF PLACE - a project for film funds, endowments, broadcasters and filmmakers endeavoring to impact society through the power of documentary films.

The first 10 short films are being developed and produced in collaboration with the German production company One Two films, the Israeli production company Green Productions and ANU - a digital community promoting Social campaigns.