Eye-opening Israeli and Palestinian film screenings at Curzon, Soho

Buzz, Film

A four-day film festival celebrating 70 years of Israeli Cinema will take place at Curzon Soho from Thursday 25 October – Sunday 28 October 2018. Showcasing critically-acclaimed Israeli films as well as exciting emerging talent, the festival which only requires registration, will host eight films over the course of four days, including the UK premiere of director Eliran Malka’s The Unorthodox (2018).

From eye-opening, subversive feminist and queer documentaries to internationally successful comedies, the festival will be a rare opportunity to be introduced to the vanguards and veterans of Israeli cinema on the big screen. Each night of the festival will show films themed by LGBTQ+, Women, Immigration and Tradition in Society, in order to shine a light on complex issues which are both pertinent to Israeli society and universally relevant.

The festival will host two feature films from critically-acclaimed female director, Rama Burshstein, who is the first Orthodox Jewish woman to find commercial success as a film director while continuing to have the support of the Orthodox community. Burshstein’s 7 Israeli Academy Award winning debut, Fill the Void (2012) entered competition at Venice, Sundance and Toronto. Her leading lady, Hadas Yaron won Best Actress at Venice Film Festival and the film received rave reviews across the board. Each screening will be followed by a Q&A with prolific London-based director and veteran of Israeli cinema, Asher Tlalim, who is a cherished contributor to the vitality and innovation of Israeli film.

70 Years of Israeli Cinema will host directors from the New Wave movement who offer fresh artistic approaches and pioneering styles of filmmaking which have gained recognition in the international film festival circuit. The selection of films reflect the wide representation this exciting development in Israeli cinema gives to different groups – from Palestinians to the Unorthodox community – the screenings will offer audiences the chance to discover political probing, moving portraits of life in Israel and Palestine.

All films will be in Hebrew or Arabic with English subtitles. Tickets are available to reserve from the 70 Years of Israeli Cinema website here: XXXXX. Each screening has over 100 tickets available and will be followed by a Q&A discussion about the film. Further detail on each of the films and the themes of the festival are below.