Editor

Kicking off tomorrow is the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s 14th Annual Other Israel Film Festival, which will feature 24 feature length and short films, including 7 U.S. premieres. With a focus on minorities in the region, each film will be followed by thought-provoking conversations about the current and future state of the region with directors, actors, and more.  

Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s 14th Annual Other Israel Film Festival

December 3 - 10, 2020

Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan’s 14th Annual Other Israel Film Festival will highlight some of the top Israeli films, coupled with meaningful discussion on the future of Israel’s region through a unique lens on underrepresented populations and the timeliest topics and themes relating to the region. More than 24 feature length and short films will be available for guests to stream virtually, followed by live Q&As with directors, actors, and more, examining Israel and the Diaspora, Israel and the military, education, and Israeli leaders. Notables such as Amos Gitai, Tsahi Halevy, Maria Zreik and Richard Peña will participate in the conversation, and singer and actress Mira Awad will provide closing remarks.

PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE:
*Subject to change*

• DAY 1: OPENING NIGHT, FRIDAY DECEMBER 3:
  • 7pm EST: One Hundred Percent, Q&A with Director Ronen Zaretzky, Principal Jalal Saad; moderated by New Israel Fund (NIF)

• DAY 2, SATURDAY DECEMBER 4:
  • 3pm EST: Crossings, Q&A with Director Itzik Lerner, moderated by New Israel Fund 
  • 5pm EST: Druze Cooking Class with Gazala’s 
  • 6PM EST: Friday Night Dinner: My Dearest Enemy Q+A with Director Tzipi Trope, moderated by Tzili Charney

• Day 3, SATURDAY DECEMBER 5: 
  • 12pm EST: Shorts 1 - Others in Israel: Birth Right, Jegna, Shlomo, White Eye, Q&A with Director Inbar Horesh, Actress Natasha Olshanskaya, Director Tomer Shushan, Director Nitzan Rozen, Director Ya'aqov Yamsa 2pm EST: Shorts - Sam Spiegel Film School: Soft Grass, Swing, Listening In, Q&A with Director Omer ٍSterenberg‎, Shadi Habib-Alla 4pm EST: Shorts 2: Encounters, The Present, Sofa So Good, Cinema Rex, Q&A with Director Farah Nabulsi; Actor Saleh Bakri, Director Noa Osheroff, Actress Hiam Abbas, Eliran Peled, moderated by Suzi Afridi
  • 6pm EST: ‘Til Kingdom Come, Q&A with Director Maya Zinshtein, Producer Abie Troen, moderated by Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, Avital Chizhik-Goldschmidt, Life/Features Editor at The Forward

• DAY 4, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 6:
  • 12pm EST: Playreading: Asher's Command, Q&A with Director Navid Neghaban, moderated by Orin Wolf (Tony Award Winning Producer of The Band’s Visit)
  • 2pm EST: Golda + The Prophet, Panel Discussion with Director Ilan Rubin Fields, Shaul Magid, Director Udi Nir, moderated by Harel Fenighstein
  • 4pm EST: Kings of Capitol Hill, Q&A with Director Mor Loushy, moderated by Lara Friedman 
  • 6pm EST: Shorts 4: Introspection, Image of Victory, White Eye, Home Constructors, Q&A in Hebrew with Director Tomer Shushan, Director Adi Mishnayot, Director Nitzan Rozen, moderated by Gili Getz

• DAY 5, MONDAY, DECEMBER 7:
  • 1pm EST: Mayor, Q&A with Director David Osit, Mayor Musa Hadid, moderated by Batya Ungar Sargon, The Forward
  • 2pm EST: Arabic Class (Led by The Abraham Fund Initiative)         
  • 5pm EST: A Common Goal, Q&A with Director Shuki Guzik, moderated by Interagency Task Force 

• DAY 6, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 8: 
  • 3pm EST: Ma'abarot, Q&A with Arik Bernstein, Dina Zvi Riklis, Hila Baharad, moderated by New Israel Fund 
  • 5pm EST: Objector + Image of Victory (Encounter), Q&A with Director Molly Stuart, Producer Amitai Ben-Abba, Actor Atalya Ben-Abba, Director Adi Mishnayot, moderated by Yona Shem-Tov

• DAY 7, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9: 
  • 6pm EST: One More Jump, Q&A with Director Emanuele Gerosa, Abdallah, 

• DAY 8: CLOSING NIGHT, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10
  • 5pm EST: Laila in Haifa, Q&A with Director Amos Gitai, Tsahi Halevy, Maria Zreik, moderated by Richard Peña
  • Closing Remarks: Israel’s Palestinian singer and actress Mira Awad

About the Other Israel Film Festival

The Other Israel Film Festival, founded in 2007, presents high-quality cinema that inspires conversation and takes an in-depth look into Israeli and Palestinian societies and underrepresented populations in Israel. The festival explores human stories and social issues for Israel and its neighbors. Other Israel presents dramatic and documentary films, as well as panels and events about history, culture, and identity. With partner organizations, the festival aims to engage the community, deepen its views, challenge its perspectives, and drive it to action. Learn more at otherisrael.org.

About the Israel Film Center

The Israel Film Center of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan is the leading resource for Israeli films in America, with the goal of expanding Israel's emerging film industry and promoting Israeli culture in America. The center, a program of The Carole Zabar Center for Film, serves as an exhibitor, promoter, educator, funder, distributor, producer, network organizer, advisor, and festival producer, and includes a viewing library and online database of Israeli cinema and the leading Israeli film streaming site. 

About the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan

Together with its community, the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan creates opportunities for people to connect, grow, and learn within an ever-changing Jewish landscape. Located on 76th Street and Amsterdam Avenue, the JCC is a vibrant non-profit community center on the Upper West Side. The cornerstone of progressive programming in Manhattan, the JCC serves over 55,000 people annually through 1,200 programs each season that educate, inspire, and transform participants' minds, bodies, and spirits. Since its inception, the JCC has been committed to serving the community by offering programs, classes, and events that reach beyond neighborhood boundaries, reaching people at all stages of their lives. Learn more at mmjccm.org.