The curtain rises on the 42nd edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival this Thursday, July 17, with a star-studded screening of Sentimental Value at the open-air Sultan’s Pool Amphitheater.
Directed by Norwegian auteur Joachim Trier—best known for The Worst Person in the World—the family drama earned the Grand Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and sets a high bar for what promises to be one of the festival’s most dynamic years yet.
Running until July 26, the festival offers a vibrant mix of over 200 films—features, documentaries, shorts, animated and experimental works—from Israel and across the globe.
Screenings will take place primarily at the Jerusalem Cinematheque and the Lev Smadar theater, while the opening night remains the exclusive spectacle under the stars at the Sultan’s Pool.
This year’s selections spotlight international acclaim and local voices alike, with an emphasis on award-winning films that have graced major festivals from Cannes to Berlin.
European Highlights: Dardenne Brothers and Parisian Explorations
Among the standout European entries is The Young Mother’s Home by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, the Belgian filmmakers celebrated for their gritty, compassionate stories of marginalized lives. This latest piece, awarded Best Screenplay at Cannes, dives into the daily struggles of young mothers living in a multicultural shelter.
French-Algerian actress and filmmaker Hafsia Herzi brings The Little Sister, a thought-provoking exploration of identity, freedom, and intellectual awakening in Paris. It follows a young woman from a conservative Algerian family who begins to challenge her upbringing after enrolling in a philosophy course.
From Germany, Israeli director Ido Fluk revisits a legendary jazz moment in Koln 75, which captivated audiences at the Berlin International Film Festival. The film tells the fascinating backstory of Keith Jarrett’s iconic concert, hinging on the contributions of a determined teenage girl.
From Asia: Korean Realism and Japanese Shock
The festival’s strong tradition of Asian cinema continues with two new works from South Korea’s master of minimalism, Hong Sang-soo. By the Stream and What Does That Nature Say to You present his signature blend of introspection, subtle conflict, and poetic dialogue.
The former revolves around a scandal involving a drama teacher and her uncle, while the latter examines class and creative struggles through a young poet’s visit to his girlfriend’s wealthy family.
In stark contrast is Japanese legend Takashi Miike’s Sham, a searing courtroom drama that dissects abuse, guilt, and media distortion. With its Rashomon-style storytelling, Sham paints a dark but compelling picture of truth under pressure.
Animation lovers can look forward to The Square by Kim Bo-sol, a uniquely styled romantic drama between a Swedish diplomat and a North Korean traffic officer, set in the tense environment of Pyongyang.
From the U.S.: Comedy, Grit, and Indie Spirit
Though film festivals often lean toward heavy dramas, this year’s American entries offer both levity and grit. Jay Duplass’s The Baltimorons is a breakout comedy hit, gaining traction at festivals for its quirky love story born from a Christmas Eve dental mishap. Critics and audiences have embraced its warm humor and sharp dialogue.
Rose Byrne stars in Tow, a socially charged true story about Amanda Ogle, a homeless woman in Seattle who took legal action against a predatory tow company. The film sheds light on systemic injustice while highlighting one woman’s perseverance.
American Baby, directed by Ellen Rodnianski—who will be present at the festival—follows a Texas teenager navigating pregnancy, abandonment, and small-town pressures in a poignant, coming-of-age indie drama.
Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa returns to Jerusalem with Two Prosecutors, a historical political drama set in the USSR during the 1930s. It tells the story of a principled young prosecutor battling government corruption under Stalin’s repressive regime.
Classic Gems and Chilling Nostalgia
In addition to new releases, the festival treats cinephiles to a rich slate of restored classics and cult favorites. Among the highlights is Michelangelo Antonioni’s The Passenger (1975), starring Jack Nicholson and Maria Schneider. The slow-burning drama follows a war journalist who assumes the identity of a dead arms dealer in search of purpose and escape.
For fans of horror, Tobe Hooper’s legendary The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) gets a special screening, paired with Chain Reactions, a documentary exploring the film’s lasting cultural impact.
On the nonfiction side, October 8 by Wendy Sachs offers a timely investigation into the wave of antisemitism that erupted on U.S. campuses following the October 7 Hamas attacks. Combining student interviews, protest footage, and expert analysis, the film aims to provoke necessary debate.
A Festival for Every Taste
With such a vast array of genres and themes, choosing what to watch can be daunting. Some festival-goers prefer to chase exclusivity, prioritizing films that may never reach general release.
Others aim to be early trendsetters, catching buzz-worthy movies before they hit wider distribution. Either approach works at the Jerusalem Film Festival, which prides itself on curating a cinematic experience that blends global excellence with local intimacy.
A glance at the full program—available at jff.org.il/en/—reveals even more hidden gems, from LGBTQ+ stories to environmental documentaries and films for children. Several screenings will be followed by Q&A sessions with directors, adding further depth to the viewing experience.
Whether you’re a seasoned festival-goer or a curious newcomer, the 2024 edition offers an exhilarating window into the state of global cinema. And with the cool Jerusalem breeze and historic skyline as your backdrop, few festivals match the atmosphere and spirit of this one.
As Sentimental Value opens the festival on July 17, it’s a reminder that stories about families, identities, and dreams—whether told from Seoul, Seattle, or Smadar Street—continue to bring us together in the darkened glow of the big screen.