International Jerusalem Film Festival Opens (Photo Essay)

By BJLIfe/Sharon Altshul
Posted on 08/25/21

Jerusalem, Israel - Aug. 25, 2021 - The entertainment industry, along with those affiliated with the tourism industry, has been drastically affected by the long closings and restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. In Israel, the theaters and cinemas were shuttered for months. The annual international Jerusalem Film Festival based at the Jerusalem Cinematheque was postponed and rescheduled multiple times.

Tuesday night, August 24, the 38th Jerusalem Film Festival opened in the Sultan's Pool, across from the walls of the Old City, with Israeli President Isaac Herzog, Sport and Culture Minister Hili Tropper,  and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion speaking. To enter the audience members had to show reserved tickets and present a green pass, also, masks were required at the outdoor event.

President Herzog began his remarks by stating, there are traditions that should not disappear, even during difficult times, the Jerusalem International Film Festival is such a tradition.

The President continued to emphasize the importance of the world of film and employees: "This term," Israeli film industry "is very important and broad, but there were also those who made it almost for a derogatory name to those who imagine the daily life of artwork as unimaginable parties on red carpets. But the epidemic period precisely bumped the honor and importance of this nickname - industry. After all, to create one film required a whole village of workers and operations, most of them remain behind the scenes, almost or completely anonymous."

Herzog went on to stress the importance of culture, to recognize the damage caused by the pandemic, and give thanks to creative minds and their work. "This hard work is seen here during the festival and will fill our hearts in hope, and possibly worrying, longing for better days, when we can return to the cinema halls." Finally, he concluded, "we will not stop enjoying the cinema."

The 99-minute film shown at the opening event was "Where is Anne Frank" by the director Ari Folman.  "A very moving animated movie, a very important film to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive among a generation that did not live at that time, by clever use of animation," remarked Michael Jankelowitz, a former spokesperson for the Jewish Agency after seeing the film at the Sultan's Pool premier event.

"In spite of Covid-19 Jerusalemites adhered to all precautions like wearing masks, showed confidence in all the measures being taken to stem the pandemic and came in their thousands to the opening of the 38th Jerusalem International Film Festival that last year was canceled due to coronavirus," Jankelowitz added.

Dignitaries in the photo essay who attended include former President Reuven Rivlin, who was accompanied by his daughter Rivi, and Deputy Jerusalem Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum.

The Jerusalem Film Festival runs until September 4, 2021, with 200 films to be presented in the Cinematheque and various venues.

New this year, every evening at 8:00 pm a new film in various Jerusalem neighborhoods, will be shown, outside under the stars to the public, and is to be free of charge. Bring your own popcorn.