Haifa Film Festival presents diverse lineup of Israeli, international cinema

AuthorHANNAH BROWN
Published date04 October 2022
Publication titleJerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)
The festival, whose new artistic director is Yaron Shamir (following longtime director Pnina Blayer's retirement) is opening with one of the most buzzed-about movies of the year, Olivia Wilde's Don't Worry Darling, and will close with an Israeli film, Shemi Zarhin's Silent

Olivia Wilde is an actress who made her directorial debut with the fun movie Booksmart, about two nerdy best friends. Don't Worry Darling is a controversial film, a thriller about a Stepford Wives-like planned desert community where the husbands are up to something really sinister, starring Florence Pugh, pop singer Harry Styles, Chris Pine and Gemma Chan, as well as Wilde herself. If you ever read the gossip press, you know that there are a lot of rumors about the cast's feuds and romances, especially since its world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, which should make it even more fun to see.

Veteran Israeli director Zarhin's Silent stars Moris Cohen, Levana Finkelstein, Oshri Cohen and Esti Zakheim in a complex story of an aggressive journalist, a telegenic political candidate with nothing to say and an older woman who has taken a vow of silence.

As always, there will be a number of competitions, including for the Best Israeli Feature Film and Best Israeli Documentary, as well as the Carmel Competition for International Films and the Golden Anchor competition, which is for debut films.

Outdoor events and awards

In addition to the films in the festival, there will be a number of free outdoor events in parks and public spaces around the city. The event always brings a festive spirit to Haifa, and those attending get a chance to enjoy the beauty and relaxed atmosphere of the city during the Sukkot holiday.

The festival's Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Makram Khoury, one of Israel's finest actors, who is at work on his directorial debut. Khoury has had an extensive stage career in addition to his film work, including performing the role of Shylock in the Royal Shakespeare Company's production of The Merchant of Venice.

The first Arab recipient of the Israel Prize, Khoury won an Ophir Award for his performance as a Greek Holocaust survivor in Magic Men. He has appeared in many movies and television series abroad, including The West Wing and Messiah. His latest film, Tarik Sela's Boy from Heaven, about a power struggle at a Cairo University, will be shown at the festival.

Distinguished guests

The festival will feature a number of distinguished guests from...

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