Ed Wood

Celebrating the 30th anniversary of Tim Burton film

The acclaimed film director Tim Burton brings life to the unbelievable story of the legend of trash cult films – Edward Wood, who is considered one of the worst filmmakers ever, brilliantly portrayed by Johnny Depp.

The film follows a time period of six years where we delve into Ed Wood’s personal life and his struggles to create one of his best known films, an autobiography named “Glen or Glenda” which depicts Wood’s personal fetish for women’s clothes. The film also follows Wood’s connection with Bela Lugosi, a horror films star in the 1930’s (Martin Landau in a breathtaking performance). Lugosi was most famous for his role of Dracula, but stopped working due to drug problems, and Ed Wood was the one who helped him get into rehab and make his last film “Plan 9 from Outer Space” which is considered to this day to be one of the worst films ever made.

Based (somewhat) on a book by Rudolph Gray Jr. ” Nightmare of Ecstasy: the Life and Art of Edward D. Wood, Jr”

A must see film! Screening of a 35 mm copy.


The movie is also available on Disney Plus

Three Kilometres to the End of the World

17 years old Adi, who is in love with a male student from Bucharest, comes to spend the summer in his small and traditional home village on the bank of the Danube river. After a violent attack one night, Adi’s world is turned upside down, when his parents seem to prefer their religion and monetary interests over him, and the villagers and the authorities justify his attackers.

Three Kilometres to the End of the World” is directed by Emanuel Parvu, who is part of Romania’s New Wave, that is characterized by realistic, fascinating and well acted cinema. The film, which won the Queer Palm Award at Cannes, is a sharp and intelligent drama about family, corruption, courage and identity.
This is Romania’s nominee for the 2025 Academy Awards.

Please note: the film contains violence and depiction of non-consensual conversion therapy.

In association with the Embassy of Romania

Bad Education

20th anniversary of the film “Bad Education”

It has been 20 years since the debut premiere of “Bad Education” at the Cannes Film Festival – here is Almodovar at his most authentic, daring, trashy and full of love for the art of cinema. This movie, which is also a tribute to Film Noir, is all about schemes, forbidden desires, suspicions and erupting passions that ruin every good thing in their path.
This is Pedro Almodovar’s most personal film that is loosely based on his own childhood. Its script had been stashed away for a decade before Almodovar dared to shoot it.

Enrique and Ignacio, who went to the same catholic school where they discovered their sexuality and fell in love, meet 15 years later. One has become a successful film director, while the other is an actor that will do anything to make it big. Together they create a film about their experiences at the catholic school and the sexual abuse they’ve endured at the hands of priests, and about the revenge that is sure to come. But as Film Noir go, nothing is to be taken for granted.
Mexican film star Gael García Bernal (“Love Bites”, “Y tu madre tambien”) steps into the high-heeled shoes of classic Hollywood stars such as Barbara Stanwyck, Rita Hayworth and many other legends. This talented actor jumps from one character to the next, from one time period to another, and gives his whole soul to an amazing and unforgettable performance.


In association with the Embassy of Spain

“All About My Mother” & panel

Before the screening: A panel of cinema and television actresses hosted by Esti Zakheim (“Afula Express”, “Leylasede”), who will be joined by Hadas Yaron (“Fill the Void”), Moran Rosenblatt (“Paper Wedding”, “Fauda”), Sivan Levy (“Six Times”, “Bitty ‘Ahou’vatty”) and Lioz Levi (“HaMedovev”, “Malach Mashchit”).


25th anniversary of the film “All About My Mother”

Winner of the 2000 Foreign Film Academy Award. Almodovar’s 13th film is a wonderful melodrama about the journey of Manuela from Madrid to Barcelona, in search of the man she left 18 years ago, in order to tell him about their son, whom he never got to meet before the son was killed in a car accident.
All About My Mother” is Almodovar at his peak, with unforgettable characters, incredible aesthetics and sharp humor next to emotional maturity, deep understanding of the human soul and the ability to combine all these into a cinematic bomb of emotions.


In association with the Embassy of Spain

The Belle from Gaza

During the filming of her previous movie, director Yolande Zauberman heard a story of a young transgender woman who fled from Gaza after death threats based on her gender identity and came to Tel Aviv to live as her true self. Several years later Yolande Zauberman returns to Tel Aviv to look for her. While searching for the mysterious young woman she meets several Palestinian and Israeli trans women, some doing sex work and some other temp jobs, all of them reaching for their dreams in their own way.
The film “The Belle from Gaza” is a celebratory hymn to women who fight daily on that ever so dangerous line between Gaza and Tel Aviv just so that they could be themselves. “The Belle from Gaza” is a brave cinematic piece that puts a mirror in front of reality and offers images of struggles for self acceptance in a sad reality that is all conflict and oppression.


In association with the Embassy of France

 

To Live, to Die, to Live Again

Renowned French director Gaël Morel’s new beautiful and moving film had its World Premiere at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.
Victor Belmondo (“Lie with Me”) and Théo Christine (“My Best Part”) star in a moving and surprising drama that brings a complicated love triangle to the big screen.
Emma loves Sammy, who also loves Cyril, who loves him back. What starts as a non-conventional threesome in the early 90’s, takes a turn with the rise of the AIDS pandemic and with it an unexpected twist that will change the lives of all three, and will lead them to face a new world full of challenges and fears.
The film also features gay icon Amanda Lear.

Gaël Morel was TLVFest’s guest in 2012 with his film “Our Paradise”.


In association with the Embassy of France

Block Pass

A breathtaking drama that was shown during the Critics Week at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Queer Palm award.
Director Antoine Chevrollier’s first full length feature explores masculinity and sexuality in rural France, and particularly in Longué-Jumelles, the director’s home town, where the film was shot.
Willy and Jojo are best friends, sharing a joint passion for motorcycles. Jojo is a motorcycle racing driver on the way to become famous in the scene and Willy is there to help him live his dream.
When a secret from Jojo’s past is revealed, his fast track to fame crumbles. The two friends embark on a self discovery journey neither of them wanted.
Young stars of the film, Amaury Foucher and Sayyid El Alami, present impressive, authentic and brave performances.

Contains depictions of homophobia and self harm.


In association with the Embassy of France

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

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.