On Sunday (19/09/21) the 37th Haifa International Film Festival will open
There is nothing like the opening day of the film festival, a special excitement that is seasoned with a unique Haifa pride, one that we haven't been able to experience for a long time, certainly after the corona virus invaded our lives and severely damaged the cultural events. Last year, as I recall, the entire festival was conducted through digital means, and despite the circumstances, it was crowned a great success, with the audience that participated numbering about 30,000 people. The many viewers at last year's online festival only provided further proof of the great popularity of the unique Haifa event and its meaning for so many.
Happily, this year the festival is held in the usual format, of course in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, and the excitement is at its peak.
As soon as you enter the festival grounds, you can feel the festive atmosphere, people from all walks of life walk among the displays and booths, adults, young people, children, devout cinema goers, or simply movie lovers, those who came to consume some culture after a long period of seclusion, festival lovers, Haifaites Proud and not from Haifa... for sure, the Haifa Film Festival is a celebration!
True, the corona virus is still with us, present and kicking and it was also felt last night at the opening of the festival, everyone was wearing masks, holding their cell phones, with the green note ready to be presented.
So with masks, distances, and green notes, nevertheless - we are here.
The opening ceremony
The opening ceremony was dedicated to the honor of Israeli filmmaker Moshe Adri, who was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award for filmmaking. Adri's contribution to Israeli and world cinema is really too short to contain, one that literally has no equal in Israel.
Moshe and Leon Adri - United King and Cinema City
Edri and his late brother Leon, who passed away three and a half years ago, were captivated by the magic of the big screen as children, while regularly sneaking into the cinemas to watch movies. The brothers began in their youth working in junior positions at the local cinema in Dimona, their city of residence, and little by little they progressed in the field, winning They acquired their place in the Israeli industry, purchased cinemas, founded the distribution company "United King", whose first hit distributed in Israel was the mythological film "Superman", starring Christopher Reeve, in 1978. Since then, the brothers have continued to distribute and produce Israeli and international films and series, contributing to the film industry became unprecedented in Israeli terms.
Edri continues his vigorous filmmaking, contributing and supporting Israeli cinema enormously, and he is the owner of the cinema chain "Cinema City", the likes of which had not been seen before in Israel, and which he founded with his brother Leon, the late, in the early 2000s.
The ceremony was moderated by the actor Lior Ashkenazi, who spoke and blessed, the mayor of Haifa, Dr. Einat Kalish Rotem, Yaron Shamir - MM the artistic director of the festival and the director of the Cinematheque, and Panina Blair, who served as the artistic director of the festival for 33 years, until the year This, and constitutes one of its most significant pillars. Today, Blair is the honorary president of the festival and the curator of "Bambat Ishii".
After all of this, and after wonderful performances of famous cinematic musical pieces by the Haifa "Big Band" orchestra, Adri himself went on stage to speak, struggling to hide his excitement.
Moshe Adri:
I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the prestigious award, the Lifetime Achievement Award. I thank my late brother Leon, who of course, the award also belongs to him, to my beloved family who supports me and my love of cinema, and of course to you, distinguished audience, for the honor you are giving me tonight. I hope to continue to work and contribute to the film industry in general, and the Israeli one in particular.
Still water that penetrates deep
At the end of the ceremony, the film that officially opened the festival was screened - "Stillwater" by the Oscar-winning director Tom McCarthy ("Spotlight"), and starring Matt Damon, which was screened for the first time and won praise at the last Cannes Film Festival.
With a smart and delicate script, a fine and paperless acting, the film penetrates the viewer's heart slowly and determinedly, layer by layer. Damon, in an excellent and touching performance, plays a father from Oklahoma, an "ordinary" working man whose function in his daughter's life is poor to say the least, who goes to Marseille, France, where she is serving a prison sentence for murder, and finds himself on a journey to prove her innocence.
The tense plot takes place almost entirely in Marseille, where relationships are formed between the American father who does not master the language and customs of the place, and the locals whom he needs on his journey, and presents complex dilemmas regarding our attitude to foreigners and prejudices, and wonders about the nature of human morality, especially when it collides with the war of private survival.
The actors alongside Damon are also amazing in portraying authentic and complex characters, each in her own struggle, through which she finds comfort, even if temporary, in the other characters. The dilemma of parent-child relationships receives a sensitive treatment in the film that is very different from what we are used to in American cinema, and presents the viewer with a multi-faceted and deep view, not always easy to digest.
The daughter is talentedly played by Abigail Bruslin ("Little Miss Sunshine"), the father's French friend - a local actress who comes to his aid, is played by the French actress Camille Cotten, and her 10-year-old daughter Maya is played by the conquering Lilo Soivad. They are all partners in the father's complex journey, as they go through a life-changing journey of their own.
Bottom line - go see!
We just started
Many more great surprises are expected at the festival which opened, as mentioned, only yesterday and will continue all Sukkot, until Tuesday 28/9/21.
Conversations with creators, outdoor events, fascinating panels and also online screenings for those who can't make it and much more, and above all, lots of good movies.
The screening halls
Rappaport Hall, 142 Hanasi Ave
Haifa Auditorium, 142 Hanasi Ave
Cinematech Haifa, 142 Hanasi Ave
Beit Hecht, 138 Hanasi Ave., 04-8353514
Tikotin Museum of Japanese Art, Raphael Auditorium, 89 Hanasi Ave., 04-8383554
*Please note - Ticotin Hall is about a 10-minute walk from the festival complex at 142 Hanasi Boulevard
The North Theater, Belinson 41, Kiryat Haim, 04-8814814
There is access for the disabled in all halls
Updated instructions for the festival - the green note:
- Entry to the film festival complex (including Gan Mania, and the auditorium square) is according to the rules of the green note.
- Masks are only required when entering the screening halls, the Rapaport lobby and the foyer of the auditorium, and wearing masks throughout the film screenings.
- Green note - vaccinated, recovering, or with a formal test (not self-tests purchased at pharmacies).
- A green child is required - ages 3-12 and three months - free of charge examinations also at the festival complex on 7 Machaniim Street or at the Kindergarten at the entrance to the educational zoo. Over the age of 12.3 - paid tests.
- The tests are valid for 24 hours.
- No entry with animals (except guide dogs).
- You can bypass the festival complex via Mahaniim Street or from the sidewalk across the road on Hanasi Blvd.
No Fields Found.
Indulging in a cliché? What reward do you expect? Yona Yahav made many promises. some of them he exists.
The residents of Haifa live in the movie all year round and do not wait for the festival.
I remembered Yona Yahav's delusional promises with some of the people mentioned in the article:
"We will build the largest cinema in Israel with 24 screens next to the stadium"
remember??
The place is still a hole in the ground.
Just one of many empty promises regarding cinema in Haifa. In the first term, Yahav promised to establish a film school. During the term, together with Moshe Kahlon, the Minister of Finance, he claimed that he would bring production studios from all over the world to Haifa and establish a film production city.
The amount of nonsense Shihav promised in the simulations and imaginations of Boki Saruki.. I can't believe that they gave him 15 years to destroy this city based on nonsense and promises.
In the end, this will happen, of course, not during Klish's term.