The new and much talked about musical crime drama by director Jacques Audiard (“Rust and Bone”, “A Prophet” “The Beat That My Heart Skipped”) which premiered at the last Cannes Film Festival to standing ovations. This film earned its amazing cast a joint award and the Judges Choice main award. This is the film that introduced to the world one of the best cinematic newcomers of recent years – transgender actress Karla Sofía Gascón, who takes over the screen and the viewers hearts with an unforgettable performance.
Zoe Saldaña (“Avatar”, “Guardians of the Galaxy”) is Rita, a frustrated lawyer who works for a big and corrupt company. One day she gets a chance to change her life – a one-on-one meeting with the head of one of the cruelest cartels in Mexico. To her immense surprise the man asks her to help him realize his dream – to undergo a gender affirming procedure and start a new life as a woman under the name of Emilia Pérez.
Other cast members include one of todays’ biggest stars as the cartel head’s wife, Selena Gomez (“Only Murders in the Building”) and the Israeli actor Mark Ivanir.
This is a film that you will not forget.
In association with the Embassy of France
“Summer Qamp” is a documentary following a group of young LGBTQ people in an idyllic summer camp by a lake in Alberta, Canada, where the young campers enjoy the traditional camp experience, but in a safe and accepting environment.
Camp fYrefly is stationed deep in a green forest and is a summer refuge for teens on the LGBTQ spectrum, far from a hostile environment, in a place where they can give fly to their queerness and their gender identity.
The film invites the viewers to meet the guides as well as the young campers, all of whom are willing to share the challenges they face and what had led them to this particular camp in remarkable and moving honesty.
In association with the Embassy of Canada
Marie Theres, a successful doctor has some very special plans for her 20th anniversary with her husband Alexander, but he has a completely different idea. He’s about to break up with her that very evening. Alexander wants to be happier, freer and doesn’t want Marie Theres in his life anymore. As a result of this very unpleasant turn, Marie Theres will do what every logical woman might do when everything in her life goes completely wrong: she goes drinking in a lesbian bar. There she meets Fa, who lives in order to enjoy life and prefers non committal relationships. After a night of heavy drinking Fa took Marie Theres home, but Marie Theres cannot remember if they’ve done “anything”.
Two women in their 40s, seemingly completely unrelated to each other, but new feelings make them rethink, is this love? The result is a heartwarming comedy that will make you believe again in love.
Additional screening: Haifa Cinematheque, 1.11, 18:30
In association with the Austrian Cultural Forum
Since the 70’s lesbians from all over the world have been drawn to the island of Lesbos, the birthplace of the famous ancient Greek poet Sappho. They find refuge on the wild beaches that are void of tourists, next to small traditional fishermen villages. The women create their own environment that does not align with the conservative mind set of the nearby villagers and brings forth tensions. Some lesbians decide to relocate to the village and start a new community, hotels and businesses that cater to the lesbian crowd, which makes the locals feel like their home had been invaded and turned upside down.
Filmmaker Tzeli Hadjidimitriou, a Lesbos native and a lesbian herself, directed an immersive experience about 40 years of love, community, conflict and gentrification.
1.11 – An introduction by Dr. Amal Ziv
In association with the European Union
Director: Mikesaf
Script: Mikesaf
Producer: Mikesaf
With: Adam, Seb
Belgium, 7 minutes, 2024, No dialogue
In apnea, with a fulfilled throat, time twists like the body under tension. Pleasure shared to the point of hallucination.
Director: Mathieu Morel
Script: Mathieu Morel
Producer: Nicolas Berviere
With: Medhi Abdelraham, Nils Boonen
France, 30 minutes 2024, English
Seven teenagers go on vacation to a small castle. Unfortunately, things don’t turn out as planned, as a killer stalks them.
Director: Nate Newman
Script: Nate Newman, Jayna Young
Producer: Nate Newman
With: Jayna Young, Damien Cole
Vietnam, 20 minutes, 2024, English
A Senator and priest’s sinister attempt to conceal their scandalous threesome with a transgender stripper sets the stage for a neon-soaked spectacle of gore and hilarity in this boundary-pushing horror comedy.
Director: Ori Di Vincenzo
Script: Ori Di Vincenzo and Lou
With: Ori Di Vincenzo and Lou
Israel, 11 minutes, 2024, No dialogue
“Thing” is a movie about the relationship between Mistress, a latex fetishist, and her furniture slave, Thing. It explores their day-to-day and the struggle they face once Mistress decides to buy a black rubber couch that threatens Thing.
Director: Ori Gold
Producer: TOHU ANIMATION COLLECTIVE
Israel, 4 minutes, 2023, No dialogue
An international hardcore animation collaboration that’s all about monsters getting nasty.
Director: Dar Dowling
Script: Dar Dowling
Producer: Dar Dowling
With: Moshe Browning
USA, 44 minutes, 2024, English
In Hebrew, “Hineni” translates to “here I am.” This documentary delves into the journey of Moshe, a trans man, who felt a profound calling to convert to conservative Judaism – and answered it. Featuring rare footage and insightful interviews, the film follows Moshe’s every step of the way, from his decision to embark on the conversion process to the deeply personal moments, including discussions with the Rabbi’s on how to approach circumcision.
