Jerusalem Film Festival draws 70,000 despite boycott campaign targeting Israeli cinema

The 43rd Jerusalem Film Festival (JFF), held from July 9-19, attracted an estimated 70,000 attendees, despite an ongoing boycott campaign launched by Film Workers for Palestine in September 2025. This year marked the first full festival cycle under the pledge, which calls on signatories to refuse work with Israeli institutions. While some attendees noted a perceived reduction in international film variety, others found the lineup to be strong, featuring films from major international festivals. JFF Executive Director Roni Mahadav-Levin stated that fewer invited guests declined attendance this year, with over two dozen international filmmakers participating. Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa, a vocal opponent of cultural boycotts, accepted the festival's lifetime achievement award. The festival's top prize went to "Where To?", a drama about a Palestinian cab driver and a young gay Israeli man.