New York, NY –Tickets are now on sale for the 5th Annual Other Israel Film Festival, which today announced its full program schedule. Taking place in New York City from November 10th – November 17th, the Other Israel Film Festival will present award-winning films and NY premieres by and about Arab citizens of Israel, as well as other minority populations in Israeli society. The festival goes beyond the films like no other major festival, with in-depth high profile conversations in the SpeakEasy Cafe. With the impending UN vote for a Palestinian state, this fall promises to place the Palestinian population in Israel in the spotlight.
The Other Israel Film Festival is proud to bring unique stories to the big screen and help raise awareness in the American public. This year’s Festival will feature narratives and documentaries dealing with community and identity, social revolution and the experience of women, often autobiographical to the filmmakers, in national conversations.
Highlights of this year’s festival films include the U.S. premiere of the BAFTA-nominated British drama: The Promise. This epic mini series captures the British perspective on the establishment of the state of Israel as the mandate occupying Palestine. The series shows the relevance of the British Mandate of 1920 to the Palestinian question of today.
In addition, the festival will premiere award-winning films such as Eitan Tzur’s thriller Naomi. A favorite at the Venice Film Festival, the film has received international acclaim for combining suspense and comedy with subtle social statements. Also among the festival’s award-winning documentaries, opening night film Dolphin Boy as well as The Human Turbine touch on environmental topics that pertain to Jewish and Arab societies in Israel.
Festival founder Carole Zabar notes the Dutch documentary Shout as “a rare opportunity to see inside the tumultuous Syrian society, as two Palestinians who grew up in Israel spend a year of school in Syria.”
The Festival will also once again present a remarkable lineup of panels and conversations with soon to be announced filmmakers, scholars and special guests in the Other Israel SpeakEasy Café. Last year’s SpeakEasy guests included Oscar nominee Debra Winger, NY1’s Neil Rosen, renowned historian Professor Benny Morris and best-selling author Naomi Regan amongst many more directors, writers and actors. The SpeakEasy Café aims to take the conversation beyond the films and provide a platform for in-depth discussions and audience interaction with filmmakers and protagonists.
Many of the award-winning and acclaimed films presented by The Other Israel FilmFestival in the past few years went on to participate in festivals worldwideand several have received North American distribution.
For more information, the complete line up and ticket information, please visit www.OtherIsrael.org or call 646-505-5708.