The 32nd Jerusalem International Film Festival got underway in the Israeli Capital on Thursday afternoon. It will run through July 19th and feature more than 200 films, most to be screened at the Jerusalem Cinematheque.
Hollywood stars continue to buck the BDS calls to boycott Israel. One taking part in this year’s festival is John Turturro, who appears in the new film Mia Madre. After it was screened this morning, the star of many hit films such as “The Big Lebowski” and “Do the Right Thing” led a workshop called a “master class” on making movies.
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Israeli filmmakers like Amos Gitai and Ulrich Seidl will also lead master classes.
There will be outdoor showings in Jerusalem’s Old City of Hollywood blockbusters such as “Edge of Tomorrow, ” “Interstellar” and “Man of Steel” as well as the Oscar winning “Whiplash.”
On the final night of the festival there will be a special showing of the multiple Oscar winning classic movie “The Godfather” at the Sultan’s Pool just outside the Old City Walls by the Jaffa Gate. Nino Rota’s iconic score will be performed by the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Justin Freer, during the screening.
Since its opening in 1984, the Jerusalem International Film Festival has become a significant platform for the presentation of Israeli cinema and the exposure of the best of world cinema. For ten days more than 150 films are screened, offering a rich and varied program, including tributes to renowned local and international filmmakers, and with professional workshops for the local film industry.
Among the festival’s prestigious competitions are – “In The Spirit of Freedom” award, granted to films dealing with the eternal quest for freedom: freedom of speech and expression, human rights, and social awareness.