The 2nd Annual Other Israel Film Festival
Click here to download .pdf
November 6 - 13, 2008
Festival will take place at The Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Manhattan, and additional venues throughout the city.
Presented by The NY Israel Film Center at The JCC in Manhattan.
1 out of 5 citizens of Israel is Arab.
Their stories are inspiring ...
The 2nd Annual Other Israel Film Festival, (www.otherisrael.org) dedicated to showcasing the lives of Arab citizens of Israel, will take place in New York City from November 6th - 13th. The week-long festival will run at the JCC in Manhattan and other locations around the city. It is presented by The New York Israel Film Center at The JCC in Manhattan.
Other Israel Film Festival celebrates the diversity of Israeli life with award-winning films and open discussions by and about the country's Arab minority populations (Christian, Muslim, Bedouin and Druze) which make up 20% of Israel's population. The Festival sheds light on the lives and challenges of the Arab minority in a Jewish defined state.
The controversial state of Arabs is extremely relevant to America today. Other Israel Film Festival brings these stories to the big screen and to the American public.
"We are thrilled to build on the success of last year's Festival, celebrating creativity and sparking discussion," said Festival founder Carole Zabar. "There is more to Israel than what we read in the headlines and we look forward to having audiences discover new Israeli faces and places."
The schedule of films, programs, guests and participants of the Other Israel Film Festival will be announced later this summer and tickets for the festival go on sale in October 6th online at www.otherisrael.org or by phone 646-505-5708.
The festival will feature several special directors' presentations and international sneak previews. Among them:
Desert Brides
Israel, 2008 Documentary, 90 minutes
Director: Ada Ushpiz
Synopsis: Miriam El Kwader, a Bedouin wedding photographer and mother of seven, living in an unknown and neglected Negev village, reveals through her camera lens, the world of Bedouin weddings; the most distressing issue revealed is polygamy. This is the story of three, relatively educated and independent women, trying to survive, each in their own way in their world - a life of polygamy. One is a "first wife", living in constant fear that her husband will bring home a second wife. The other two are pushed into marrying already married men, and become "second wives", forced to cooperate within a structure they despise or are afraid of. The family tragedies presented in this film, highlight the strength and survival of the social structures and their injustices; leaning usually on the victims' partial cooperation.
Awards and Festivals: First Prize - Docaviv 2008 (Israel)
For photo: click here
Lady Kul el-Arab
Israel, 2008 Documentary, 56 minutes
Written & Directed by: Ibtisam Mara'ana
Language: Arabic & Hebrew with English subtitles
Synopsis: Angelina, the first Druze woman to attempt significant steps in the Israeli fashion world, finds herself in the middle of a complicated conflict in which the tradition and values of her society clash with her brave efforts to choose her own way in life. Duah Fares, a young woman from the Druze village of Sagur in the Galilee, was one of the 12 finalists in the beauty pageant for Israeli-Arab women - 'Lady Kul el-Arab.' While preparing for the pageant,a special relationship develops between Duah and fashion designer Jack Yaakob. Together they go to Tel Aviv to register Duah for the general Israeli beauty contest as well. Duah breezes through the preliminary selections for the contest and changes her name to Angelina. Lady Kul el-Arab which set out as a glamorous film about a beauty pageant, turned into a moving story of a family caught between cultures. In her fifth film, director Ibtisam Mara'ana succeeds in delicately drawing the dramatic and touching portrait of a young woman who finds herself at the heart of a struggle which fascinates the whole country.
For Photo: click here
The Boys from Lebanon
Israel, 2008 Documentary, 52 minutes
Director: Ohad Ofaz
Synopsis: In May 2000, the South Lebanese Army (SLA) collapsed and its members fled from Hezbollah fighters into Israel, their ally who had abandoned them. 700 families of SLA refugees are living in Israel today. Pierre and Massoud are two sons of an SLA officer who brought his family to Israel when the two were boys. Pierre aspires to dedicate himself to the Lebanese music he loves, but he is forced to support his family instead. Massoud brings together a group of friends, all sons of former SLA fighters,and starts a basketball team called Erez Naharia ("Cedars of Naharia"). This is the story of young Lebanese men struggling to build their lives and realize their dreams on the ruins of war in Lebanon and exile in Israel.
Festivals: Docaviv 2008 - Ofifcial competition
For Photo: click here
New episodes from Arab television show "Arab Labor"
After its successful world premiere at Other Israel Film Festival last year, ARAB LABOR is back in the festival with new episodes.
Israel, 2007 TV Fiction, 9 episodes at 30 min. each
Director: Roni Ninio
Synopsis: Arab labor deals with the Arab status In Israeli society, the controversy surrounding issues of identity and the sensitivities of both populations. The series explores the daily conflicts that Arabs face between the desire to integrate and their own values and traditions. Amjad is a 35-year-old Arab journalist, married to Bushara (a social worker) and father to Maya. In order to become the darling of the In-crowd, Amjad is willing to lie, flatter and conceal all of his Arab traits. Meanwhile, he vehemently represents the suffering of Arabs at any given forum. This excessive Israelization is a source of conflict between Amjad and his conservative parents. His wife mocks his ways and deeds, but shows restraint in order to preserve domestic peace. Amjad's only ally is his friend Meir (an Israeli Jew) - a photographer who works with him at the newspaper, a sworn bachelor who falls In love with Amal, Bushara's feminist Arab friend.
* * *
Some of the successes of the first annual Other Israel Film Festival were "Sling Shot Hip-Hop" by Jackie Salloum, which was presented as work in progress during the festival and later was an official selection of Sundance; "Roads' by Lior Geller which later won best short fiction film at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival; and "No Longer Achmed" by David Deri was just recently acquired by Al Jazeera (one of very few ever Israeli films to be acquired by Al Jazeera and broadcasted in the Arab world). The television show "Arab Labor" was first screened at the festival before being broadcasted on Israeli television. The show became an unprecedented hit, breaking the rules of an Israeli prime time commercial program.
* * *
Carole Zabar (Founder) Mrs. Zabar has been an active supporter of Israeli documentary filmmaking over the last decade and has recently founded the Other Israel Film Festival. As part of her support for Israeli cultural, social and political causes, Mrs. Zabar serves as board member of The JCC in Manhattan, New Israel Fund, and the American Friends of Meretz.
Isaac Zablocki (Executive Director) Grew up in Israel and served in the IDF as an educational filmmaker. Recently completed his first feature film, "Reality Lost", and is the director of film and literary programs at The Jewish Community Center in Manhattan.
Ravit Turjeman (Festival Director) Founder and Managing Director of Dragoman Films, a NYC-based boutique distribution company, specializing in marketing of Israeli Cinema in North America. Ravit also serves as director and programmer of numerous film festivals in the Tri-State area.
* * *
The schedule of films, programs, guests and participants of the Other Israel Film Festival are scheduled to be announced later this summer and tickets for the festival go on sale in October 6th online at www.otherisrael.org or by phone 646-505-5708.
