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The sixth Jerusalem International Women’s Film Festival will take place from October 27–31 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque and other venues across the city, highlighting compelling new films by and about women. Select screenings will also be available online at www.jwff.co.il, free of charge.
The festival opens with Tow, directed by Stephanie Laing, a fact-based drama starring Rose Byrne as a woman forced into homelessness who teams up with a lawyer to fight back. The film also features Octavia Spencer, Ariana DeBose, Dominic Sessa, and Demi Lovato.
The closing film, Yakushima’s Illusion by Naomi Kawase, follows a French heart-transplant coordinator in Japan torn between saving a child’s life and searching for her missing partner.
This year’s lineup includes a vibrant international selection. Highlights include Queen Mom by Manal Labidi, which premiered at Cannes; The Good Manners by Celia Rico Clavellino, a post-Civil War family drama; and Four Letters of Love by Polly Steele, starring Pierce Brosnan and Helena Bonham Carter.
Israeli films also take center stage. These include Homes by Veronika Nikol Tetelbaum, which debuted in Berlin; The Book of Ruth by Esty Bitton Shushan, focusing on women’s political inclusion in ultra-Orthodox communities; and Mama by Or Sinai, screened at the Toronto International Film Festival.
This year’s honoree, Yael Perlov, will receive special recognition for her impact on Israeli cinema and education. A director, editor, and producer, Perlov has led initiatives like DocuDance and A Room of One’s Own – Women Write, promoting Jewish-Arab collaboration through film.
For the first time, the festival introduces four Israeli competition categories: Best Feature Film, Best Independent Short, Student Shorts, and Young Directors – High School Filmmakers, providing a platform for emerging voices in women’s cinema.
Special events include a pre-premiere of “Cut the Sky,” a Keshet 12 documentary about Alice Miller, who broke barriers for women in the Israel Air Force. Another highlight will be a Sam Spiegel Film School evening showcasing debut films from actresses-turned-directors Moran Rosenblatt, Yael Navon, and Ella Armony.
An online program will extend access nationwide, featuring documentaries with recorded filmmaker talks. The festival also runs year-round initiatives, screening films in shelters for women survivors of violence, paired with creative workshops in writing and acting.
Directed by Lehi Sabag and Shira Misher of the Women in the Picture Association, and supported by the Jerusalem Municipality, Jerusalem Foundation, and Culture and Sport Ministry, the festival continues to amplify women’s voices on and off the screen.