The Rahat Film Festival, which promotes coexistence and celebrates cinema, will be held for the second time from February 10 to 17 at the Rahat Cinematheque in the Rahat Palace of Culture, despite the war and the losses suffered by the Bedouin community in the war. . .
The festival spotlights films from countries along the Mediterranean and throughout the Middle East. Rahat, the world’s largest Bedouin city, has struggled with economic development and integration into Israel’s social fabric, and the cultural cooperation that this festival represents is an important step toward achieving these goals.
Fuad Ziadna, director of the Rahat Community Center, which is sponsoring the festival, said in a statement during the program: The war made no distinction between who was an Arab and who was a Jew. The Bedouin community in the Negev has suffered the worst blow it has ever experienced, both in terms of casualties and the number of abductees. All this is clear evidence that Bedouins can no longer remain invisible. Together with our dear partners, we are leading a high-profile project, the Joint War Room, and we believe that in the most difficult of times, together we are stronger, and together we are the best way to respond. It has been shown that this is the key to living together. . We once again welcome film lovers and visitors to the Rahat Film Festival and celebrate communal life. ”
In the October 7 massacre by Hamas, more than 20 Bedouin were killed and six were taken hostage. Several people remain detained in Gaza. Many Bedouin took heroic actions to rescue people attacked by Hamas at the Supernova Music Festival and in Gaza border communities.
Despite the hostage situation and deaths, festival producer and artistic director Daniel Alter felt the event needed to go ahead as scheduled. He described the festival as a “miracle” and said that although he lost several friends in the October 7 massacre, after about 10 days of shock and sadness, he “picked himself up and went back to work on the festival.” Told.
There were ambitious plans to invite guests from overseas, but the war forced adjustments to the program.
“We tried to find a way to make every screening more than just a movie,” he said. “Almost every screening includes a meeting with the filmmakers and opportunities for discussion and other activities before and after the film.”
What kind of films will be screened at Rahat Film Festival?
An original movie created to commemorate the event will be screened at the festival. bedouin dream Written by Kaid Abu Latif. He narrates his 50-year history of Rahat city from the perspective of an entrepreneur and an artist. The screening will be attended by the current mayor of Rahat, Atta Abu Mudegum, and many former mayors.
The festival is sugar and starsdirected by Sebastien Tourard, is based on the true story of Yazid Ihemrahen, the son of Moroccan immigrants to France who became a master chef.
The highlight of the festival is the screening of films third man Documentary about Israel Prize-winning actor Makram J. Cooley, written by Adi Adwan.
Cooley has had a distinguished career as an actor. While he was abroad, he played Shylock in the film version. merchant of venice Belongs to the Royal Shakespeare Company west wing. In Israel, he won an Ophir Award for Best Actor for his role as a Greek Holocaust survivor. magic man Written by Guy Nattiv and Erez Tadmor, it has a long list of film, television, and stage credits.
The screening will be preceded by a symposium featuring Khoury, Adwan and other Israeli art experts, moderated by film critic and director Albert Gabai. Participants include director/actor/screenwriter Shlomi Elkabetz, actress Rauda Suleiman, and actor Ghassan Ashkar. There is also an opportunity to tour Rahat.
Another special event will be the screening of Avi Nesher’s films. image of victoryThis film tells the story of the battle of Kibbutz Nizanim, not far from Rahat, during the War of Independence, from the perspectives of Jews living on the kibbutz and a photojournalist from Cairo who infiltrated the Egyptian army and made a documentary. . war. This will be followed by a panel discussion between Nesher and the film’s two leads, Amir Khoury and Ala Dhaka.
blue kaftanA Moroccan film directed by Mariam Touzani that tells the story of a devoted husband and his sick wife who make traditional kaftans, and the husband’s attraction to a new male apprentice who comes to work with them. . The award-winning film stars Lubna Azabal, Saleh Bakri and Ayoub Mishwi and is scheduled to be released in Israel later this year. Gabai is scheduled to give a lecture on the portrayal of women in films before the screening.
Marie Castille Mention Charles Conductor,alias Divertimentois based on the story of two French sisters from an Algerian family who dream of a career in the field of classical music. One is a cellist and her other one is a conductor. The film will be preceded by a conversation between festival director Alter and Israeli maestro Doron Salomon, who has conducted prestigious orchestras around the world.
Maha Haji’s latest movie, mediterranean fever, the story of a depressed writer who befriends a new neighbor, a handyman who dabbles in petty crime, will also appear on the show. Producer Bahel Agbariya will participate in a pre-screening discussion that will also include director Yusuf Abu Madiam and actors Hanna Azoulay-Hasfali and Uli Gabriel.
Like all good film festivals, the Rahat event has a national focus and aims to involve local residents. To that end, we feature children’s movies dubbed into Arabic.
It may seem trivial to many of us, but in Israel the majority of movies for young children are dubbed into Hebrew, and Arabic-speaking children watch movies on the big screen. I don’t get that much experience. But at Rahat, kids can enjoy Disney classics like the original. jungle book, Peter Pan, aristocatand alice in wonderlandas well as more recent films. super mario bros movie, elemental” and the live-action version. little mermaid.
As Lia van Lier, founder of the Cinematheques of Jerusalem and Haifa, always understood, every community needs to develop a filmmaking culture to tell its stories, and to instill in its children a love of cinema. Developing this is an important first step.
In addition to Rahat Community Center, sponsors of the festival include the Department of Regional Cooperation, the City of Rahat, and the Community Center Council. This festival is held in collaboration with Red South Festival.
For more information and to view the entire program, please visit rff.co.il.