An Arab, a Jew, a Chinese, and a Philippine walk to school one morning…”—sounds like the beginning of an old joke, but that’s not the case. These are some of the second-grade pupils attending the Tel Nordau Elementary School, in the heart of Tel Aviv. The film follows the pupils’ interactions among themselves and with Meirav, their teacher. Meirav has to adapt the ill-suited educational materials, which are in contradiction with the needs of her classroom’s post-modern melting pot. The film follows the class throughout one school year, which becomes volatile as the Gaza War upsets the social dynamics in the classroom.

Follows the Jewish-Arab duo: NOA, a world-renowned Jewish-Israeli singer, and Arab singer Mira Awad, on their journey to represent Israel at the European song competition, following the military operation in Gaza and despite resistance from left and right.

Four-month-old Palestinian Mohammad will die without a bone marrow transplant, a procedure that can only be done in an Israeli hospital. Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar documents complex and emotional story, as Israeli and Palestinians put aside their differences to save Mohammad’s life.

Amal High School in Lod is the last opportunity for students who failed other educational frameworks to complete their high school education. We follow three students’ stories through the eyes of the school’s principal, who is determined that his students will succeed against all odds. JCC screening followed by a conversation with Director Orna Raviv; Mary Ann Stein, founder of the Moriah Fund; and NIF Fellow Ruth Carmi. Cinema Village screening followed by a conversation with Director Orna Raviv

A six-year-old blind girl of Filipino origin who was born in Israel is adopted by a loving Filipino worker. Together they try to bridge the gaps of language and mentality in a country in which one of them regards as her homeland and the other still feels like a stranger. JCC screening followed by Director Anat Tel in conversation with Cathleen Caron, Founder and Executive Director of Global Workers Justice Alliance.

Back and Forth is the second documentary feature produced in the independent cinematic project in Rahat guided by Uri Rosenwaks, the first was “The Film Class”, presented at the 2007 Other Israel Film Festival. JCC screening followed by Q&A with Director Uri Rosenwaks. Cinema Village screening followed by Q&A with Director Uri Rosenwaks and Vivan Silver of NISPED

Episodes from the wittier, edgier second season of Sayed Kashua’s hit TV satire. Amjed is an Arab journalist working for an Israeli newspaper, who will do anything to be part of the bourgeois Jewish Israeli society. He makes every effort to neutralize his Arab identity, culture, and national affiliation and continuously being mocked by his family, and both Arab and Jewish societies. In this season Amjed moves with his family to a Jewish neighborhood in pursuit of “equal water pressure” for Jews and Arabs, facing the neighborhood dogs who recognize him as Arab and bark at him on all occasions, and being invited to participate in an alternative ceremony on Israel’s memorial day… JCC screening followed by a conversation between Actor Debra Winger, Creator Sayed Kashua, and Producer Danny Paran. Cinema Village screening followed by Q&A with Creator Sayed kashua and Producer Danny Paran