Israel’s Minister of Culture and Sports, Miki Zohar, has announced the opening of the Israeli pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival, featuring films from the “Gaza Envelope” (areas near Gaza). This marks the eighth year that the Israeli Pavilion has been established under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, focusing on film creation, co-productions, and collaborations between the Israeli film industry and international counterparts.
This year’s pavilion is dedicated to the residents of the Gaza Envelope. For the first time, it will showcase films by filmmakers from Sapir College in Sderot, located just north of Gaza. These films aim to reveal the unimaginable reality faced by the region’s residents, including the effects of prolonged exposure to traumatic events on children and the impact of living in a constant state of emergency.
All films being showcased were shot before October 7. Following the screenings, there will be a discussion led by director Michal Lavi, whose film is part of the pavilion, alongside her brother-in-law Omri Miran, who was kidnapped in Gaza.
In addition to the film screenings, the pavilion will host international panels on “diversity in cinema” and a women’s panel featuring women who manage cinema fields in conflict zones. There will also be events and meetings with industry professionals aimed at promoting dialogue and fostering international collaborations.
The Israeli pavilion at the Cannes Film Festival will be open to visitors from May 14 onwards.