Full Schedule Announced for The 2nd Annual Other Film Festival
November 6 - 13, 2008
Festival will take place at The Jewish Community Center (JCC) in Manhattan and Cinema Village.
Presented by The Israel Film Center at The JCC in Manhattan.
Full program scheduling was announced today for The 2nd Annual Other Israel Film Festival, (www.otherisrael.org) dedicated to showcasing the lives of Arab citizens of Israel. The Festival will take place in New York City from November 6th - 13th and will run at the JCC in Manhattan and Cinema Village. It is presented by The 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 opening night film of the Festival is "Sons of Sakhnin United" and will be followed by an opening night gala. Information and ticket prices for the opening night film and gala are available on the website: www.otherisrael.org.
Tickets for the Other Israel Film Festival cost $11 and 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.
THE FILMS:
ARAB LABOR
Director: Roni Ninio
Israel, 2007, 80 min
After its successful world premiere at The Other Israel Film Festival last year, the hit Israeli television show ARAB LABOR is back in the festival with new episodes, humorously exploring the daily conflicts that Arabs face when interacting with Israeli Jewish society. The series, created and written by Saiyed Kashua, follows Amjad, a 35-year-old Arab journalist and his escapades while working for a Jewish newspaper.
Invited filmmaker: Salim Daw, actor
THE BOYS FROM LEBANON
Director: Ohad Ufaz
Israel, 2008, 52 min
In May 2000, with the exit of the Israeli Army from Lebanon, the South Lebanese Army (SLA) collapsed and its members fled from Hezbollah fighters into Israel. 700 families of SLA refugees are living in Israel today. This is the story of young Lebanese men struggling to re-build their lives and realize their dreams on the ruins of war in Lebanon and exile in Israel.
Invited filmmaker: Ohad Ufaz
BRIDGE OVER THE WADI
Directors: Barak & Tomer Heyman
Israel, 2007, 55 min
Bridge Over the Wadi captures the struggles and tenacity of the teachers, students and parents during the first year of a bicultural, bilingual Jewish/Arab school located in an Arab village. Parents and students face the hurdles and daily struggles of coexisting.
Invited filmmaker: Barak Heyman
DESERT BRIDES
Directed by: Ada Ushpiz
Israel, 2008, 90 minutes
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. 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.
Visiting filmmaker: Ada Ushpiz
FOG
Director: Rafik Halabi
Israel, 2008, 57 min
A fascinating story of bereavement, mysticism and reincarnation, Fog follows the quest to unravel the fate of the missing soldier First Sergeant Mu'in Halabi who disappeared at the beginning of the Yom Kippur War. Veteran newsman, Rafik Halabi set out on a journey into time, memory, and the Druze religion, in an attempt to uncover what lies behind this multi-layered story, and explore the Druze belief in the re-embodiment of the soul.
THE HEART OF JENIN
Germany, 2008, 89 minutes
Directors: Leon Geller and Marcus Vetter
In November 2005, Ahmed Khatib, a twelve-year-old Palestinian boy from the Jenin refugee camp, was accidentally killed by an Israeli soldier. Despite his grief, the boy's father Ismael consented to donate his son's organs to several Israeli children. Thanks to this act of humanity, four of those children, each from a different part of Israeli society, are alive today.
The Heart of Jenin explores the legacy of Ismael's decision during the two years following his son's death.
Invited filmmaker: Marcus Vetter
ID BLUES
Director: Chaim Yavin
Israel, 2008, 106 min
Chaim Yavin takes us on a travel log with his camera among Israel's Arabs. Compiled of two parts, in the first part, entitled My Blood is Red Like Yours, he ponders the discrimination towards Arabs in Israeli society, including the fields of economics, education, land ownership, and jobs. The second part, Land of the Negev, deals with Israel's Bedouin population, who are torn between a society going through rapid modernization and daily destruction.
Invited filmmaker: Director Chaim Yavin
JUST MARRIED
Director: Ayelet Bechar
Israel, 2006, 70 minutes
The Israeli Citizenship Law states that residents of the Palestinian Authority may not enter Israel, even if married to Israeli citizens. Just Married is the story of two Palestinian couples who decided to marry knowing that it will be impossible for them to live together in Israel.
Invited filmmaker: Ayelet Bechar
LADY KUL EL ARAB
Director: Ibtisam Mara'ana
Israel, 2008, 56 minutes
Angelina, the first Druze woman to attempt significant steps in the Israeli fashion world, finds herself in the middle of a societal conflict when the tradition and values of her village clash with her aspirations to be the first Druze Miss Israel. Her brave choices put her life and dreams in danger as she attempts to defy her community's ways.
Invited filmmaker: Director Ibtisam Mara'ana
SONS OF SAKHNIN UNITED
Director: Christopher Browne
USA/Israel, 2007, 84 minutes
In this insightful and exciting documentary, the small Arab town of Sakhnin has been united by sport and Jews and Arabs strive for a common goal. Beating the odds in a quixotic quest for Israel's State Soccer Cup, the multi ethnic and religious soccer team of Sakhnin battles to maintain their "premiere" league status.
Invited filmmakers: Director Chris Browne and co-producers Roger Bennet & Michael Cohen
SHORTS (All 5 short films are screened together in one viewing)
Various Directors, 70 Minutes
6.5 MIN IN TEL AVIV
Director: Mirey brantz
Lovers parting, families traveling, businessmen commuting. A Tel-Aviv bus is the setting for an unexpected confrontation brought on by fear and panic. Invited filmmaker: Ziad Bakri, actor
AJAMEION
Directors: Ziad Bakri, Alex Bakri
Invited filmmaker: Co-director Ziad Bakri
SHADES OF LIGHT
Director: Maysaloun Hamoud
Invited filmmaker: Ziad Bakri, actor
POWER
Director: Ayelet Bechar
In the Bedouin Village of Arab El Sawaed in the north of Israel there are homes built and roads paved by the people themselves but no basic services such as electricity or running water.
Invited filmmaker: Director Ayelet Bechar
ROADS
Director: Lior Geller
Winner of The Tribeca Film Festival, and premiered last year at Other Israel returns for an ancore screening. 13-year-old Ismayil searches for a new life for him and his brother outside the Arab drug slums of Lod. Daniel, a traumatized Israeli ex-soldier, buys drugs from Ismayil escaping his own reality. Here, deep in the sewers of Israeli society, they just might find in each other their way out.
OTHER ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL SCHEDULE:
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Sons of Sakhnin United - (OPENING NIGHT GALA) - 7:30pm - JCC In Manhattan
Friday, November 7, 2008
Arab Labor - 7:00pm - Cinema Village
Lady El Arab - 9:00pm - Cinema Village
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Shorts - 5:00pm - The JCC In Manhattan
Bridge Over The Wadi - 5:00pm - Cinema Village
Desert Brides - 7:00pm - The JCC in Manhattan
Sons of Sakhnin United - 7:30pm - Cinema Village
ID Blues - 9:00pm - The JCC In Manhattan
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Bridge Over The Wadi - 5:00pm - The JCC In Manhattan
Just Married - 5:00pm - Cinema Village
Lady Kul El Arab - 7:00pm - The JCC In Manhattan
ID Blues - 7:00pm - Cinema Village
Desert Brides - 9:00pm - Cinema Village
Monday, November 10, 2008
Fog - 7:30pm - Cinema Village
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Boys From Lebanon - 7:00pm - The JCC In Manhattan
Shorts - 7:30pm - Cinema Village
Fog - 9:00pm - The JCC In Manhattan
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Arab Labor - 7:00pm - The JCC In Manhattan
The Boys From Lebanon - 7:30pm - Cinema Village
Just Married - 9:00pm - Cinema Village
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Heart of Jenin - 7:30pm - The JCC In Manhattan
SPECIAL PROGRAMS:
NEW GENERATIONS FRIDAY NIGHT DINNER & CONVERSATION WITH CHAIM YAVIN
Often referred to as Mr. Television, Israeli News persona Chaim Yavin and other guests of the festival join us for a conversation around the dinner table, to discuss the topics of his recent documentary series ID BLUES and his work as Israel's most renowned newscaster.
The event is open for young leadership groups and people in their 20s and 30s. Advanced registration required.
Friday, Nov. 7, 8:00 PM
The JCC in Manhattan
* Co-presented with The New Israel Fund
WHEN MUPPETS DREAM OF PEACE
Sesame Street has co-productions around the world, and a long history in Israel. But when these Americans tried to unite Jews and Arab Israelis, Palestinians, and Jordanians to promote mutual respect, they found themselves in a world of clashing agendas and unforeseen opportunities. It's all chronicled in the upcoming documentary When Muppets Dream of Peace.
Featuring excerpts from the documentary-in-progress; segments of the latest Rechov Sumsum; and a conversation with the filmmakers, and Sesame producers, this special event will highlight the challenge of bringing the "Other Israel" to our next generation.
Saturday, Nov. 8, 3:00 PM / Sunday, Nov. 9, 1:00 PM
The JCC in Manhattan
BUILDING BRIDGES
Join us for a full day of programming for the whole family based on building bridges between Jewish and Arab Israeli culture, celebrating the diversity of Israeli life through the means of art and education.
* Co-presented with Givat Haviva and Ha'Shomer Ha'tzair
Sunday Nov. 9 @ The JCC in Manhattan
10:00 AM Registration & Reception
11:00 AM Breakout session - cooking, darbuka drumming, belly dancing, a conversation with filmmaker Ziad Bakri
1:00 PM Through Others' Eyes - Review & Lunch reception (see description
2:30 PM Breakout session - cooking, darbuka drumming, belly dancing, a conversation with filmmaker Ziad Bakri
3:30 PM I am from there - Mahmoud Darwish (see description)
5:00 PM Bridge Over The Wadi - screening & discussion (see description)
6:30 PM Drum Circle
THROUGH OTHERS' EYES - PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
Through Others' Eyes uses photography as a medium communication and self-expression among Israeli Jewish and Arab Youth, exploring and creating a collective identity.
Initiated and directed by the Givat Haviva Institute in Israel, photography projects include visits to each others' homes and communities, and involve exercises with topics such as cultural and religious celebrations, the body, and family.
* Co-presented with Givat Haviva
On view November 6-13 at The JCC in Manhattan
Official reception on Sunday, Nov. 9, 1PM
I AM FROM THERE - MAHMOUD DARWISH
The most important contemporary Palestinian poet, Mahmoud Darwish, who passed away earlier this year, gave voice to the Palestinian experience.
Join us for an afternoon of poetry, music and conversation about Darwish and his work.
Sunday, Nov. 9, 3:30 PM
The JCC in Manhattan
OTHER WHO? - A CONVERSATION ABOUT IDENTITY AND DEFINITION
Palestinians? Israeli Arabs? Israeli Palestinians? This panel of filmmakers and guests discusses questions of Arab identity in Israel.
Monday, Nov. 10, 7:00 PM
The JCC in Manhattan
WORKING TOGETHER - THE BAND'S VISIT
Join us for a special screening the all time most successful Israeli film, with a conversation with Actor Sallah Bakri and other filmmakers, sharing their experience working together making films in Israel.
Monday, Nov. 10, 9:00 PM
The JCC in Manhattan
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Tickets for the Other Israel Film Festival cost $11 and go on sale on October 6th online at www.otherisrael.org or by phone 646-505-5708.
