Julieta, Pedro Almodovar’s latest film, will open the 33rd Jerusalem Film Festival in a festive screening at the Sultan’s Pool in Jerusalem, on July 7, 2016. Actors Emma Suarez and Daniel Grao will be in attendance at the premiere. The festival will take place from July 7 – 17, 2016 with screenings of over 200 films. Julieta is based on three short stories, “Chance,” “Soon,” and “Silence,” from the book Runaway (2004) by Alice Munro. Julieta is the third film by Almodovar to open the Jerusalem Film Festival, following All About My Mother (1999), and Talk To Her (2002). The film participated in the official competition at the 2016 Cannes Festival, where it was noted for Almodovar’s return to his signature woman-centered narrative. Following the Jerusalem festival premiere, Julieta will be distributed in Israel by Lev Films from July 8, 2016.
In Julieta, Alodovar explores the mystery of a woman’s life in a non-linear narrative that reveals the development of her character and emotions in different times and circumstances, to become the person she is in the present. Julieta is portrayed in the film by two actors: Emma Suarez portrays the older Julieta, while Adriana Ugarte portrays the younger Julieta.
New to the festival is an international competition intended to celebrate outstanding films from around the world and encourage the distribution of quality films in Israel. The competition will include between 8 – 10 full length films from different countries, reflecting different approaches to cinema, with the art of cinema as the primary criteria for selection. A prize of $20,000 will be awarded to the best film, donated by the Wilf Family Foundation. Marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Wilf Garden in the city center, an outdoor summer cinema will be set up in the garden, with an interactive children’s area.
The Jerusalem Film Festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture Film Council, the Jerusalem Municipality, The Jerusalem Development Authority, The Jerusalem Foundation, The Van Leer Group Foundation and The Ostrovsky Family Fund. Festival Executive Director: Noa Regev; Artistic Director: Elad Samorzik.
