“The Other Israel” in Focus at JFBB

The series is organized in collaboration with the Other Israel Film Festival, which focuses on relationships between and within Israel’s diverse communities. Its director Isaac Zablocki will attend the JFBB and emphasizes:

“In times of polarization and boycott, it is essential to make nuanced perspectives visible. ‘Other Israel’ creates a space for dialogue—cinematic exchange is a powerful tool for cultural change.”

Screenings includeThe Smugglers, about access to Arabic-language literature in Israel; the Oscar-nominated short drama Butcher’s Stain; and On Thin Ice, following a Druze ice hockey player balancing sport and family. The program is complemented by a panel discussion on the situation of filmmakers, offering insights into current production conditions as well as artistic and thematic challenges.

“The Other Israel” is supported by the Federal Agency for Civic Education.

In addition to this series, the festival program includes two competitions and further sections. An overview of the competitions and all sections is available here.

PANEL: PRESSURE FROM ALL SIDES: WHO GETS TO TELL THE STORY?
Sat 9.5. 11:00 am | FILMKUNST 66 Berlin
Free Entry | Language: English

What does it mean to tell a story about Israeli-Palestinian contexts in the Israeli cinematic space and what does it take to do so? Bringing together filmmakers working across different contexts, the panel looks at the structures that shape these narratives, with a particular focus on films with Arab protagonists and themes, and how they are received, interpreted, or challenged once they are out in the world.