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An Eye Opening Experience
We speak to Katriel Schory, director of the Israeli Film Festival, about what audiences can expect from the 2010 festival lineup.
It's 9am in Tel Aviv when FILMINK speaks to Katriel Schory, artistic director of the Israeli Film Festival. Despite the early hour, Schory is more than eager to talk about the films that will be screened at this year's festival.
"I can't choose a favourite film," he says admiringly, "They are all my sons."
Now in its seventh year, the festival originated from the need to give Israeli filmmakers a platform from which they could showcase their talents and share their unique stories with the rest of the world.
"There was a real need to show the variety and complexity of Israeli society," recounts Schory. "We saw that Israeli cinema really gives a good picture of this very turbulent society we live in, all the ups and downs and the different issues ... which are so much part of our lives."
Having already enthralled audiences in the US, South America and Europe, the 2010 Festival, presented by the Australian Israel Cultural Exchange, will run in Melbourne and Sydney over the next three weeks.
Schory believes that audiences will be impressed by the high quality and diversity of the films chosen for this year's lineup.
"We thought that we should really bring a variety of stories which give a wide range of the issues, the stories, the different looks of Israel ... it should be a good film that tells a story in a compelling way," he explains.
Audiences will definitely be spoiled for choice by this year's lineup, with films dealing with everything from the Israel-Palestine conflict, forbidden love and the Holocaust. All films were created with the support of the Israel Film Fund, of which Schory is also the Executive Director.
The festival's opening night film Ajami (pictured), directed by Israeli Scandar Copti and Palestinian Yaron Shani, tells the story of a multi-ethnic neighbourhood in Tel Aviv, torn apart by violent racial conflict and prejudice.
The film was incredibly popular upon its release in Israel. For Schory, it is an example of cinema's power to engage and educate society. "250,000 Israeli people went to see this movie," he exclaims. "They came away thinking, ‘Hey, we were not aware that just next to us there is a whole community with all these troubles."
Also screening at this year's festival is the controversial Eyes Wide Open, a love story between two Jewish men living in Jerusalem's ultra-orthodox Meah Shearim community. "It is a film about having to make tough decisions between the rules of society and one's self and inner desires," says Schory.
Since its inception, the festival has helped shine a spotlight on Israel's blossoming film industry. Many of the films selected this year have earned critical acclaim both in Israel and internationally. Ajami is the third successive Israeli film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
Schory believes that Israeli films are beginning to see international success because of the talents of Israel's filmmakers and producers. "We have very strong, compelling and daring stories and the filmmakers who've emerged in recent years have learned how to tell them in an engaging way. There is a tremendous energy in Israel; a creative energy," he enthuses.
He hopes that interest in Israeli films will help the industry continue to flourish. But more importantly, he hopes that the festival will give people an insight into the narrative of the Israeli people.
"When you see the films, you understand different views. If we can further enhance dialogue and open up people to better understand each other, then we've made it."
The AICE Israeli Film Festival runs in Melbourne August 17-22 and Sydney August 31-September 5. Katriel Schory will be in Australia from August 20 to attend the festival and host various Q&A sessions. For more information, click here.