The Jerusalem Film Festival will celebrate its 30th anniversary this summer! Opening ceremonies will take place on July 4, 2013, at the Sultan’s Pool in Jerusalem, honoring the festival’s central role in fostering Israeli cinema. On this auspicious occasion, the festival will open with an Israeli film, the premiere of Reshef Levi’s Hunting Elephants.
Hunting Elephants, produced by Ehud Bleiberg, Moshe Edery and Leon Edery, boasts a a bevy of Israeli stars -Sasson Gabai, Moni Moshonov, Yael Abecassis, Moshe Ivgy, Tzvika Hadar, and international star of Star Trek and X Men fame, Patrick Stewart.
The film focuses on twelve year old Jonathan (played by Gil Blank), who loses his father as the result of a traumatic incident which he has caused. He and his mother Dorit must contend with their sudden descent into poverty and the implacable insensitivity of the bank management where his father worked, who refuse to compensate the family. Just when it looks like life has hit rock bottom, Jonathan’s mother leaves him at the retirement home where his grandfather lives, a man with whom he has never been in contact. Jonathan is swept away into the crazy world of old people whom the world has forgotten – people who founded the State of Israel, who knew love and were full of passion, and now have been rendered invisible. The intelligent boy, the grandfather who was a fighter in the militant Zionist group Lehi (known in English as The Stern Gang), grandfather’s friend Nick who longs for love, and the Uncle, an English Lord and frustrated actor who dreams of his next role – all take off on a fantastic journey to take revenge on the bank and the establishment.
“When Alesia Weston called to tell me that Hunting Elephants, an Israeli film, would be the festival’s opening film, I felt a great happiness,” said Reshef Levi in a statement to the press, noting that “a premiere screening in front of an audience of 5,000 is a once in a lifetime experience.”
A prolific writer for stage and screen, Levi’s previous credits include the feature film Lost Islands and Ahava Columbianit (directed with Shay Kanot); television series Mischak Machur and Meorav Yerushalmi, and stage plays The Indian Patient and To Dance and Fly.
The Jerusalem Film Festival has a close and fond connection with Israeli film spanning several decades. Many of today’s leading Israeli directors were first discovered at the festival, as well as those Israeli films that have become part of the Israeli cultural canon. Among the memorable directors and films are: Eran Riklis – On a Clear Day You Can See Damascus (1984), Rafi Bukai – Avanti Popolo (1986), Renen Schorr – Late Summer Blues (1987), Shemi Zarhin – Leylasede (1995), Orna Ben Dor – B’Glal Hamilchama Hahi (1987), Ari Folman – Yom Nifla leDagei Habanana, Shavi Gavizon – Shuroo (1991), Eytan Fox – Yossi & Jagger (2002), Joseph Pitchadze – Besame Mucho (2000), Doron Tsabari – Drik’s Brother (1994) and many more…
To take a flying leap forward in time, some recent award-winners at the Jerusalem Film Festival: Ami Livne – Sharqiya (2012), Meni Yaesh – God’s Neighbors (2012), Emad Burnat & Guy Davidi – Five Broken Cameras (2011), Yossi Madmoni – Restoration (2011), Ra’anan Alexandrowicz – The Law in These Parts (2011), Arnon Goldfinger – The Flat (2011), Yael Hersonski – A Film Unfinished (2010), Scandar Copti, Yaron Shani – Ajami (2009), Ronit Elkabetz & Shlomi Elkabetz – Shiva (2008), Eran Kolirin – The Band’s Visit (2007), Ran Tal – Children of the Sun (2007), Tawfik Abu Wael – Atash (2004), Keren Yedaya – Or (2004), and many, many more…
Looking forward to the Jerusalem Film Festival 2013!
