Israeli movies balance excitement, sorrow, and war at Jerusalem Film Festival

The 43rd Jerusalem Film Festival, running from July 9-19, featured a more festive atmosphere than previous editions, with many sold-out screenings and an opening night attended by 6,000 people. Despite the celebratory mood, the ongoing war was acknowledged with shelter information before screenings and several films directly addressing the conflict. The documentary "Find Me, Okay?" by Yula Gidron, for instance, detailed the kidnapping and murder of hostage Eden Yerushalmi, with her sister stating, "Eden asked us to fight for her. If you were there, wouldn’t you want people to fight for you?" Other films explored the experiences of Israelis abroad coping with the war's fallout, and dramas focusing on marginalized communities, including an Arab woman rebelling against blood feuds and a haredi wedding entertainer seeking redemption.