All Films and Events 2024 Archives - Page 7 of 10

The Substance

“Have you ever dreamt of a better version of you? You, only better in every way possible. Seriously, you have to try this product. It’s called ‘The Substance’. It changed my life! It creates a different “you”, newer, younger, prettier, more perfect. There’s only one rule – you share time. One week for you, one week for her. Perfect balance, easy, right? If you respect the balance, what could possibly go wrong?”

“The Substance” which had taken this year’s Cannes Film Festival by storm and got 11 minutes of standing ovations, gives one of Hollywood’s beloved veterans Demi Moore (“Indecent Proposal”, “Ghost”, “A Few Good Men”) one of her best roles, with high chances of getting an Oscar nomination. The film won its director Coralie Fargeat the script award at the Cannes Film Festival and helped cement her status as a groundbreaking filmmaker. Get ready for an unbelievable, wild and funny film you will not stop talking about.

In association with the Embassy of France

Emilia Pérez

The new and much talked about musical crime drama by director Jacques Audiard (“Rust and Bone”, “A Prophet” “The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) which premiered at the last Cannes Film Festival to standing ovations. This film earned its amazing cast a joint award and the Judges Choice main award. This is the film that introduced to the world one of the best cinematic newcomers of recent years – transgender actress Karla Sofía Gascón, who takes over the screen and the viewers hearts with an unforgettable performance.

Zoe Saldaña (“Avatar”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”) is Rita, a frustrated lawyer who works for a big and corrupt company. One day she gets a chance to change her life – a one-on-one meeting with the head of one of the cruelest cartels in Mexico. To her immense surprise the man asks her to help him realize his dream – to undergo a gender affirming procedure and start a new life as a woman under the name of Emilia Pérez.
Other cast members include one of todays’ biggest stars as the cartel head’s wife, Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”) and the Israeli actor Mark Ivanir.
This is a film that you will not forget.

In association with the Embassy of France

Summer Qamp

“Summer Qamp” is a documentary following a group of young LGBTQ people in an idyllic summer camp by a lake in Alberta, Canada, where the young campers enjoy the traditional camp experience, but in a safe and accepting environment.
Camp fYrefly is stationed deep in a green forest and is a summer refuge for teens on the LGBTQ spectrum, far from a hostile environment, in a place where they can give fly to their queerness and their gender identity.
The film invites the viewers to meet the guides as well as the young campers, all of whom are willing to share the challenges they face and what had led them to this particular camp in remarkable and moving honesty.

In association with the Embassy of Canada

What a Feeling

Marie Theres, a successful doctor has some very special plans for her 20th anniversary with her husband Alexander, but he has a completely different idea. He’s about to break up with her that very evening. Alexander wants to be happier, freer and doesn’t want Marie Theres in his life anymore. As a result of this very unpleasant turn, Marie Theres will do what every logical woman might do when everything in her life goes completely wrong: she goes drinking in a lesbian bar. There she meets Fa, who lives in order to enjoy life and prefers non committal relationships. After a night of heavy drinking Fa took Marie Theres home, but Marie Theres cannot remember if they’ve done “anything”.
Two women in their 40s, seemingly completely unrelated to each other, but new feelings make them rethink, is this love? The result is a heartwarming comedy that will make you believe again in love.

Additional screening: Haifa Cinematheque, 1.11, 18:30

In association with the Austrian Cultural Forum

Lesvia

Since the 70’s lesbians from all over the world have been drawn to the island of Lesbos, the birthplace of the famous ancient Greek poet Sappho. They find refuge on the wild beaches that are void of tourists, next to small traditional fishermen villages. The women create their own environment that does not align with the conservative mind set of the nearby villagers and brings forth tensions. Some lesbians decide to relocate to the village and start a new community, hotels and businesses that cater to the lesbian crowd, which makes the locals feel like their home had been invaded and turned upside down.
Filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, a Lesbos native and a lesbian herself, directed an immersive experience about 40 years of love, community, conflict and gentrification.

1.11 – An introduction by Dr. Amal Ziv

In association with the European Union

Lesbian International Mix 1

Duration 95 min

Bar 51

Amos Guttman’s second feature film tells the story of a brother and sister from the country, who decide to find their luck in the big city Tel Aviv after the death of their mother. They meet Apollonia, the owner of a sleazy joint called “Bar 51”, who employs them at the bar, mostly because of her strong attraction to the brother, who in turn, is secretly in love with his own sister.
Apollonia is played by Ada Valerie Tal, the first Israeli transgender actress, and her character is based on Gila Goldstein, who used to perform at the real “Bar 51”.
“Bar 51” is a stylish creation that reminds of the early works of Fassbinder and Almodóvar.

Contains depictions of violence, including sexual assault and self harm.

This movie is part of Amos Guttman Retrospective

“Drifting (Nagu’a)” & show by Aviv Shriki

Before the screening: short musical performance by Aviv Shriki – songs inspired by Amos Guttman’s work.

Amos Guttman’s debut film is a groundbreaking cinematic piece and considered to be the first Israeli feature film that deals directly and seriously with the subject of gay men in Israel.
Robi lives with his grandmother and works in her grocery shop. Robi has two obsessions – men and movies. All his sexual encounters are channeled towards fulfilling his dream – becoming a film director.

This movie is part of Amos Guttman Retrospective

Keep Not Silent – Ortho-Dykes (Et SheAhava Nafshi)

Celebrating 20 years of the premiere of Ilil Alexander’s groundbreaking film

Following the screening we will conduct a Q&A session with the creator of the film and a number of notable religious lesbian activists.

An Israeli documentary film from 2004, which won the Ophir Award for best docu, directed and produced by Ilil Alexander.
The film follows three Ultra Orthodox lesbian women living in Jerusalem and struggling with their sexual preference and their attraction to women. The film details the conflicts standing in their way – the wish to fulfill their desires and be authentic in their love and their loyalty to their families and their religious faith, and follows their lives and struggles.
The Hebrew name of the film comes from Song of Songs, 3:1 – “By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth; I sought him, but I found him not.”

The film was screened in cinemas and on TV in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Poland, as well as in Israel.

Taboo: Amos Guttman

After the screening – conversation with the creators.

While alive, Amos Guttman was a “red flag” for Israel’s conservative film establishment. As a gay filmmaker, he created the nation’s first films on the subject. Guttman aimed to make films for the few, yet he also wanted global connections — films that Derek Jarman or Pedro Almodóvar could watch by chance and feel understood. Unfortunately, Guttman had time to make only four features and four short films before dying of AIDS.
“Taboo: Amos Guttman” uses excerpts from his very last interview and other, previously unseen materials, letting historical materials tell his story and reevaluate his choices on and off the set.

This movie is part of Amos Guttman Retrospective