The Jerusaelm Film Festival Announces its Opening and Closing Films

Sublet, the new film by Eytan Fox (Walk on Water), will open the 37th Jerusalem Film Festival (December 10-20)

The Festival will close with Emmanuel Mouret’s Love Affair(s)

The 37th Jerusalem Film Festival will take place from December 10-20, 2020. This year, the festival will be held mostly virtually, with the intent of holding physical screenings in accordance with the Ministry of Health guidelines during the set dates.

Dr. Noa Regev, Director of the JFF, and Artistic Director, Elad Samorzik: "We believe there is no substitute for the actual encounters created by film festivals between audiences, filmmakers, and films on the big screen. However, due to this year's unique conditions, and out of a deep commitment to our audience and filmmakers in Israel and abroad, we decided to provide a commendable program available in our viewers' homes, and at the same time, continue hoping that the Ministry of Health guidelines will enable us to hold festival screenings in the theatres as well. In any case, we will conclude this challenging year with a significant celebration for all film lovers."

The JFF will open with Eytan Fox's new film, Sublet, which had its world premiere at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival to critical acclaim. The film tells the story of Michael, a New York Times writer who visits Tel Aviv after suffering a tragedy. The city's energy and his relationship with a younger man who becomes his tour guide bring him back to life.

David Rooney from The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "In Sublet Eytan Fox brings sensitivity, restraint and slow-burn sensuality to a story of cross-generational emotional awakening.… Sublet is a visually seductive love letter to Tel Aviv and its vibrant street life."

Sublet was co-written by Fox and Itay Segal, and stars American actor John Benjamin Hickey (The Good Wife), and Israeli actor Niv Nissim in his first major film role. The film was produced by United King Films, Moshe Edery, Micky Rabinovitz, and Gal Uchovsky, with the assistance of the Rabinovich Foundation. The film is expected to hit the screens as soon as they reopen.

Eytan Fox is one of Israel’s leading directors, both at home and abroad. He is the rare arthouse filmmaker whose work is undeniably entertaining, and he has a loyal audience. His films have been released theatrically in dozens of countries and have won numerous awards around the world. He directed the successful TV series Florentine (1998) and the films Yossi and Jagger (2003), Walk on Water (2004), The Bubble (2006) and Yossi (2012). Sublet is his seventh full-length feature film.

Dr. Noa Regev, Director of the JFF, and Artistic Director, Elad Samorzik: "Sublet is a film brimming with warmth and sensitivity that combines both human and cinematic insight. The film moved us deeply, and we are confident that it will move and surprise the festival viewers. We are honored to open this year's festival with the new film by Eytan Fox, a beloved and esteemed filmmaker who has greatly influenced Israeli culture over the past three decades."

The festival will close with the French film Love Affair(s) by screenwriter and director Emmanuel Mouret (Change of Address, Mademoiselle de Joncquières) which was part of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival Official Selection.

In his tenth feature film, Mouret creates a clever, romantic comedy that follows Daphne (Camelia Jordana), three months pregnant, who finds herself alone in the countryside to welcome Maxime (Niels Schneider), her boyfriend François’s cousin. François had to leave in a hurry for Paris to cover for a sick colleague. For four days, while awaiting his return, Daphne and Maxime get to know each other and share intimacies that bring them closer.

Love Affair(s) is an original, perceptive, and lively film full of plot twists. The film was warmly embraced by the critics when it was released in France in September.

The festival will feature over 80 films this year and will hold six competitions. The virtual screenings will be held in partnership with Festival Scope and Shift72.