On the day of the 20th anniversary of the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, The Other Israel Film Festival at JCC Manhattan presents a special NY premiere preview screening honoring his memory.

Winner, “Best Documentary” – Haifa International Film Festival 2015

20 years after his assassination, Yitzhak Rabin, one of Israel’s most legendary leaders, tells his dramatic life story. Through a combination of rare archival footage, home movies and private letters, Rabin’s personal and professional dramas and life story unfold entirely in his own voice. From his childhood as the son of a labor leader before the founding of the State of Israel, to the horrific moment when his political career and life were suddenly brought to an end. There is no better way to present the story of this legend than in his own words.

A radical dreamer and a rebellious visionary, the Israeli peace activist Abie Nathan was the man behind “The Voice of Peace,” a pirate radio station broadcasting from a ship off the coast of Tel Aviv. During the 1970s, the station had more than 20 million enthusiastic listeners from all over the Middle East. This fascinating documentary follows Nathan’s humanitarian work over four decades, combining rarely-seen archival footage with interviews with former Israeli President Shimon Peres, Yoko Ono, Sir Michael Caine, and other world-renowned individuals who believed in Nathan’s vision of a more peaceful Middle East.

An intimate portrayal of life on the edge in the war-torn city of Sderot. For years, Sderot’s prolific rock scene has revolutionized Israeli music, marrying Eastern sounds to Western influences. The town has also been the target of ongoing rocket fire from the Gaza Strip for the past thirteen years. In 2007, filmmaker Laura Bialis traveled from Los Angeles to Sderot to explore this reality firsthand. Through the personal lives of Sderot’s diverse musicians, as well as through her own deepening connection to Sderot’s people, Bialis chronicles the town’s trauma, discovering music, romance, and its enduring spirit.

A riveting compilation featuring diverse stories across generations.

The Arrest (Dir. Yair Agmon, 10 min, Narrative
Boys of Nitzana (Dir. Tamir Elterman, 9 min, Documentary)
Dirty Business (Dir. Vadim Dumesh, 15 min, Documentary)
Till Day’s End (Dir. Amitai Ashkenazi, 19 min, Narrative)

A moving documentary that tells the story of Mussa, a 12-year-old African refugee living in one of Tel Aviv’s worst neighborhoods. In a strange stroke of government policy, Mussa is bussed to an upscale private school every day, where he silently navigates a privileged world, connecting with his friends and teachers through gestures and facial expressions but, inexplicably, refusing to speak. When Mussa’s mother is told she must leave the country in one week, Mussa is left devastated, fearing deportation and compelled to leave his father and friends behind.

Founded in a bomb shelter in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem, the Jerusalem Boxing Club brings together hundreds of teens from all around the city. For many of these young people, the desire to excel and to win the national championship is nourished by the tough training and boundless love of Gershon Luxemburg, club manager and trainer, who claims that “nobody comes to box without a reason.” Jerusalem Boxing Club follows four teens from different walks of Israeli life as they learn from Gershon, call his club home, and compete together for the national title.

A look back at that old Friday afternoon ritual, when Israeli families of all backgrounds–Mizrahi, Ashkenazi, and Palestinians alike–would gather to watch the week’s “Egyptian movie” on television. This documentary explores that peculiar phenomenon and examines how Israel’s official TV station was able to transcend hostile boundaries to obtain these films, and why. Arabic Movie takes us back to that fleeting moment when Israelis shared the same cultural heroes as everyone else in the Middle East, even as it raises disturbing questions about the relationship of Israelis with their neighbors across the border.