Israeli Cinema 2024 Archives - Page 2 of 3

“Jerusalem Is Proud to Present” & Panel

After the screening, a panel will take place with 3 LGBTQ activists from different cities –
Reut Nagar (Tel Aviv), Shiri Bar-On (Mitzpe Ramon) & Nava Dissentshik (Rosh Haayin), hosted by the film creator Nitzan Gilady.

In the summer of 2006, Jerusalem was to host, for the first time in history, the World Pride events, which were to culminate in a traditional gay pride parade. The planned events stirred turmoil in the politically complex city, with Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious leaders banding together in an uncompromising battle against what they said would “defile the holy city”. On the other side stood the activists of the Open House, Jerusalem’s LGBT community center, who planned the events. Steadfast in the face of the heated and violent anti-gay sentiment, they had to deal with threats to much more than just their right to march.

Sapir

After the screening: conversation with the creators.

Sapir Berman is part of the global revolution taking place today in professional sports in relation to the LGBTQ community. Sapir was born near Haifa, and began her career as a soccer player. She progressed at the highest speed, and at the age of 26 was appointed as a referee in the Premier League. Everything happened while she was still in the closet, without telling anyone about her true dream. Then, one day she announced to everyone, I am a woman and always have been. And so began her long-standing struggle to continue refereeing, while going through the gender affirming process. Today, she is still the only woman referee among 20 men in the Israeli Premier League.

Gay Days

The screening will be followed by a panel with Yair Qedar, Elliott, Michal Eden and Omer Ohana, on the subject of the Israeli LGBTQ community 15 years ago (when the film was released) versus today. What had changed for the better and what had not?

Director Yair Qedar chronicles Israel’s LGBT revolution in a series of interviews and archive footage and in the process, shares his own story – a boy from a small town who arrived in Tel Aviv in the mid-eighties and embarked on a journey that began with oppression, before plowing on towards equality and along the way, starting the free LGBTQ publication, The Pink Times (‘haZman haVarod’).

Eyes Wide Open

Before the screening: an introduction by the creators.

Aaron is a respected butcher in one of the ultra orthodox communities in Jerusalem, he is married to Rebbeca and they have two children. When Aaron is looking for an assistant to fill his deceased father’s place in the shop, he meets Ezri, a handsome yeshiva student who is looking for a place to stay.
Aaron takes Ezri under his wing and becomes his mentor. One day, at a remote mikve (a Jewish ritual bathhouse), a deep connection is formed that is shaking Aaron’s whole being. Aaron is developing feelings towards Ezri, spends more and more of his time with him, neglecting his family and his duties to his community and gets swept into a vortex he can’t get out of.

Gila Goldstein, Cat Lady

(Combined duration: 60 min)

After the screening: conversation with the director Yael Bedarshi.

Premiere

Gila Goldstein (1947-2017) was an actress, artist and singer, one of the first Israeli transgender activists and also a feeder of stray cats.
“Gila Goldstein, Cat Lady” was shot in 1999 during a research on Tel Aviv cat feeding community. Gila agreed to participate in the film as long as the focus stayed on the cats. But then her friend Ronit Maimon showed up and the conversation went in a much more colorful direction, that gives us a glimpse of the Israeli trans community and the lives of these two brave and unique women.

Yair Hochner, TLVFest director:
Watching “Gila Goldstein, Cat Lady” brought me back to the moments that I miss so much – sitting with Gila in her living room or in a coffee shop and talking about life, sometimes seriously and sometimes jokingly. Watching this film is like watching a true moment, without any filters or shticks (one of Gila’s favorite words). It’s so realistic you can almost smell Gila’s cigarettes.

TLVFest dedicates this screening to Ronit Maimon who passed away this year.

“Amazing Grace” & Panel actors and crew

Before the screening: conversation with actors & crew members who worked with Amos Guttman.

Newly-Restored Digital Copy of Amos Guttman’s final masterpiece.

Young Jonathan moves to the city, but can’t find happiness. He meets the older Thomas, who recently returned from years abroad and is hiding the fact he’s been diagnosed with AIDS. The two develop a tender relationship, yet only one of them knows that their time together is about to run out.

“Amazing Grace” was made in the early nineties, when AIDS and HIV were discussed in a very politically incorrect way. Nonetheless, it is still a very touching film, thanks to Guttman’s gentle direction and the excellent performance by the cast.

Amnon Zalait is responsible for the beautiful cinematography of the film and Arkadi Duchin for the wonderful original music. Excellent editing by Einat Glaser-Zarhin.

The New Digital Copy supported by Israel Film Fund, Mifal Hapais, Israel Film Archive Jerusalem, Maureen Friedman

Special thanks to Maureen Friedman.

Clip from “Amos Gutman, Filmmaker“

This movie is part of Amos Guttman Retrospective

That’s Gila, That’s Me

Alon Weinstock’s documentary film has a cult following with fans who return annually; packing movie theatre to capacity for the sole purpose of enjoying Gila Goldstein’s zingers and being moved by the life story of one of Israel’s first trans women who was also a Tel Aviv icon-turned legend, while still live.
Gila was born in the 50’s in lower Haifa. A young soccer player in the Maccabbi Haifa who had always known that she is a woman. In her 20’s she moved to Tel Aviv and worked as a prostitute and exotic dancer. In 2003 she was proclaimed the community’s darling for her contribution and continued fight for social justice.
The film, shot between 1997 – 2010, describes the world of a woman who is, despite fleeting years and many struggles, still happy, optimistic and feeling forever young. Because Gila is the one and only and in her own radical language: “That’s Gila, That’s Me.”

In memory of Gila Goldstein (18.12.1947 – 05.02.2017)

Guttman X 5

Special cinematic project produced by TLVfest and supported by The Yehoshua Rabinovich Foundation for the Arts.
Five different episodes inspired by the life story and films of the director Amos Guttman.
Animated sequences between the episodes were done by the animator Mysh.

The different plots in the project are ranging in genres and different cinematic styles:
1) Sivan Levy brings a video clip about a prostitute, two drug addicts and sexually exploited young man, who are successful in escaping their bitter fate for some moments of grace in the bar which serves as a place of refuge.
2) Yoav Inbar takes us to the beginning of the 80th and tells the story of a young boy from Haifa who decides to make a journey to the gay garden in Tel Aviv.
3) Ronny Almog and Emil Ray in a movie about a middle-aged film director who speaks with young director from “Drifted” (1983) and wonders what has changed for the LGBT people in the past thirty years.
4) Yoav Brill tries, in an animated film, to follow after one of the most intimate and public practices – two guys holding hands.
5) Stephanie Abramovich introduces us to Kati Gutman – it’s been twenty years since her only son Amos died of AIDS. Today, for the first time, she dares to open past wounds.

This movie is part of Amos Guttman Retrospective