Paris Israeli Film Festival 2025
The Paris Israeli Film Festival returned from March 17 to March 25, 2025, at Cinéma Majestic Passy for a 25th edition full of discoveries.
Created by Charles Zrihen, and now lead by Hélène Schoumann and her artistic director Armelle Bayou, it has, for a quarter of a century, this unmissable event has highlighted the talents of Israeli cinema, offering a unique perspective on a society in constant transformation through engaging, intimate, and powerful works.
To celebrate this anniversary edition, the program is packed: feature films, documentaries, classics, special events, series, and short films will all be in the spotlight.
PODCAST ON BEST FILMS OF THE PARIS ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL 2025
“FIELD TRIP” BEST SHORT FILM AWARD – Yehuda Bogomolany Perry Kafri Award for Best Short Film
During a field trip to the Israel Museum with his military unit, Lev breaks away from the group and attempts to reinvent himself.
This bold and brilliant film explores the concept of freedom in a strikingly original way that sparks curiosity and reflection. According to the jury, freedom of expression in Israel is under threat, and they are eager to see what comes next from this promising filmmaker.
Paris Israeli Film Festival 2025 – MY CINEMATIC CRUSHS
My first cinematic crush – COME CLOSER – Directed by Tom Nesher
With Lia Elalouf, Darya Rosenn, Netta Garti, Yaakov Zada Daniel, Shlomi Shaban, Yael Shoshana Cohen, Lia Schon, Ido Tak, Shay Tra Litman
The only person Eden truly loves is her younger brother, Nati.
On the night of his 17th birthday, Nati plans a romantic evening with his secret girlfriend, Maya. But before he can see her, he is kidnapped by his sister and their friends for a surprise party on the beach. After a night of drinking, Nati sneaks out to meet Maya—but on the way, he is hit by a car and killed.
In mourning, Eden sets out to discover the identity of her brother’s secret lover. When the two grieving women meet, their relationship takes an unexpected, sensual, and dangerous turn.
Review
For a debut feature film, young director Tom Nesher delivers a powerful and well-crafted story about today’s youth — a generation confronting grief, discovering love, and navigating the confusion of life choices.
Daughter of filmmaker Avi Nesher, a true institution in Israeli cinema, Tom directed the entire film without showing him a single frame until production was complete.
She began writing the script shortly after the death of her brother, and only recently completed it.
As it deals with death and the journey through mourning, the film has been especially well received in Israel following the events of October 7, 2023. Lead actress Lia Elalouf, in her very first role, is a revelation. And the story rings deeply true — a psychiatrist in the audience even told me it reminded her of certain therapy sessions. The soundtrack and cinematography are both stunning.
In short, this is a film that truly deserves distribution in France.
HEMDA – Directed by Shemi Zarhin – My second cinematic crush
With Sasson Gabay, Asi Levi, Maor Levi, Adi Alon, Roy Assaf, Lital Schwartz
Sassi and Efi are hardworking individuals, struggling with a debt left by Sassi’s son, who left for Brussels.
Despite their age gap, their love and humor help them navigate life’s hardships. However, when two young men—Omri, Sassi’s grandson, and David, Efi’s former student—enter their lives, their carefully maintained routine is turned upside down.
Review
Sasson Gabai and Asi Levi form a magnificent duo in this story with an original screenplay. The tale of this deeply bonded couple who momentarily drift apart when the past resurfaces is both touching and a poignant reminder that nothing in life is ever guaranteed.
The young actor Adi Alon, who plays their seemingly carefree grandson, also moves us deeply with his subtle performance.
Here, there is no talk of the army or religion. The film focuses on the personal and the universal.
It was awarded the Audience Award this year.
Given Sasson Gabai’s strong box-office appeal, will Hemda find distribution beyond Israel? Let’s hope so.
PINK LADY – Directed by Nir Bergman – My third cinematic crush
With Nur Fibak, Gal Malka, Uri Blufarb, Sara Von Schwarze, Michal Weinberg, Romi Aviram
In an ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem, Bati’s life seems perfect. She is married to Lazer, and together, they have three children.
But her world begins to fall apart when Lazer becomes the target of blackmail, leading Bati to discover his secret relationship with his study partner.
Determined to keep her family together, she stands by Lazer as he desperately tries to “cure” his homosexuality, while she simultaneously begins to explore her own true desires.
Review
Nir Bergman’s films (My Kid) are always filled with deep sensitivity. This time, the director takes us into the heart of a couple whose relationship, from the very start, feels fragile and strained. The main reason? Desire.
Bati is not desired by her husband. And for good reason — he is gay. When she discovers the truth, she believes she can “cure” him by changing her own personality…
Gal Malka portrays a woman striving to exist fully in an ultra-Orthodox community, while under the constant pressure of her mother and mother-in-law.
She resists — and it’s this quiet yet powerful resistance that Nir Bergman captures with remarkable humanity and subtlety.
Closing Film
THE POOL (STOLEN WATERS) – Directed by Amichai Greenberg
With Yehoram Gaon, Meshi Kleinstein
A cynical retiree reconnects with his free-spirited granddaughter, an artist, in an effort to retrieve his stolen savings, locked away in a swimming pool locker.
Unbeknownst to her, the video art project she is working on at the pool is actually a cover for a police investigation.
Review
This comedy is a delight — a tribute to 1970s films with quick cuts, James Bond-style music, and quirky situations. The Pool also explores the human connection between a grandfather and his granddaughter.
The setting — entirely within a swimming pool — makes the story refreshingly original.
Definitely one to watch if it becomes available on streaming platforms.
Paris Israeli Film Festival 2025: Documentaries
JACOB DE HAAN: A VOICE OUT OF TIME – Directed by Zvi Landsman
The death of Jacob Israël de Haan is commemorated each year by the ultra-Orthodox Neturei Karta Jews in Jerusalem and by the LGBTQ community in Amsterdam. A pioneer in both worlds, De Haan wrote the first LGBTQ novel in the Netherlands in the early 20th century before returning to his Jewish roots.
He emigrated to Palestine and became a spokesperson for the Orthodox Jewish community, advocating against Zionism in collaboration with Arab leaders from neighboring countries.
Despite his political activism, he continued to write homoerotic poetry, which was about to be published in Dutch when he was assassinated in 1924 by an unidentified killer. Now, never-before-heard audio recordings may finally unravel this 100-year-old political mystery.
Special guest: The screening will be followed by a discussion with the director, Zvi Landsman, and Ilan Greilsammer, Professor at Bar-Ilan University.
Review
The extraordinary story of a man celebrated by radically opposing communities won the Best Documentary Award.
Zvi Landsman has crafted a true poetic investigation — tracing the assassin of Jacob Israël de Haan, translating his poems, and dedicating five years of research and travel to this remarkable journey.
There’s a freedom in the form — just like de Haan himself, the director takes a free and personal path in his storytelling.
As the film’s cinematographer as well, Landsman offers breathtaking visuals of Jerusalem — a sky, a bird, a book — that transport us through time and into a little-known yet deeply resonant chapter of history. One that holds special relevance today, both in Israel and around the world.
Zvi Landsman declared and thanks the festival that is a beacon for Israeli cinema abroad.
OCTOBER 7, 2023 – BEYOND OCTOBER 7TH – Directed by Jasmine Kainy
Three generations of the Gad family physically survived the October 7th attack.
This intimate documentary begins just two days after they were rescued from the massacre, capturing how each family member copes with the trauma differently.
With their closest friends either murdered or kidnapped and their homes lost, they struggle to rebuild their community in Be’eri while asking themselves:
Will they ever return home?
Review
Director Jasmine Kainy immerses us in the daily lives of survivors who have been forgotten by their government. Day by day, we follow a family facing horror, uncertainty — not knowing who is alive or who is dead — and grappling with the guilt of survival, echoing the trauma experienced by Jews during the Holocaust.
Kainy raises many urgent questions: Why didn’t the police answer calls on October 7? Why did the army take three days to arrive? And why are these survivors being shuffled from hotel to hotel, left to live in caravans with no long-term support?
This powerful documentary opens the door to a broader conversation. Many more films will undoubtedly continue to explore the questions surrounding that day — a day that profoundly changed the history of Jews around the world.
KAFKA, THE LAST TRIAL – Directed by Eliran Peled
When Franz Kafka died, he left behind a vast collection of unpublished manuscripts. He had asked his friend Max Brod to burn them all, but Brod defied his wishes, allowing the world to discover one of the greatest literary figures of the 20th century.
This act of betrayal, though well-intentioned, led to a multi-generational legal battle. The film follows this century-old saga, from the twisting streets of Prague to Spinoza Street in Tel Aviv, where Max Brod’s legendary secretary passed away at the age of 102, with Kafka’s original manuscripts still in her possession.
And the ensuing court battle over the fate of these documents could have been written by Kafka himself.
Special guest: The screening will be followed by a discussion with the director, Eliran Peled, and author and producer Léa Veinstein.
Review
Another remarkable discovery! This fascinating documentary explores the story of Franz Kafka’s manuscripts through both real-life testimonies and excerpts from Kafka’s own fiction, including The Metamorphosis.
Blending animation and live-action footage, the film offers a captivating narrative about a case that made headlines in Israel — yet remained largely unheard of elsewhere.
A must-watch for literature lovers and those intrigued by the hidden journeys of cultural heritage.
FREUD, THE OUTSIDER – Directed by Yair Qedar- Special Prize (not seen)
Freud, The Outsider is a creative documentary that takes us on a journey through the life and work of Sigmund Freud in four acts—blending animation, dreams, and insights from leading psychoanalysts.
This thought-provoking film examines Freud’s Jewish identity, his biography, psychoanalysis, and the role of marginalization as a strategy for power, shaping one of the most influential figures of modern times. Itay Tiran stars as Freud.
Special guest: The screening will be followed by a discussion with the director, Yair Qedar, and Tobie Nathan, Professor Emeritus of Universities.
Paris Israeli Film Festival 2025: Special Event
READING LOLITA IN TEHRAN – Directed by Eran Riklis
With Golshifteh Farahani, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Mina Kavani, Reza Diako, Arash Marandi
Azar Nafisi, a professor at the University of Tehran, secretly gathers seven of her students to read Western literary classics, which are banned by the regime.
Through these secret meetings, the women find a rare space of freedom, where they share their hopes, loves, and dreams, navigating life in an increasingly oppressive society.
For them, Reading Lolita in Tehran is a celebration of the liberating power of literature.
Read my interview of Eran Riklis
KUGEL (Episodes 1 & 2) – THE RETURN OF SHTISEL! – Directed by Erez Kav-El – A must-watch!
In Antwerp, long before she met Akiva Shtisel, Libi lived with her father Nuchem, a jewelry dealer willing to bend the rules to make a sale.
But when his wife Yides tires of his shady dealings and files for divorce, their family is thrown into chaos. Nuchem desperately tries to win her back, all while courting Pnina Baumbach, a widow who has inherited a kugel restaurant.
Meanwhile, Libi dreams of becoming a writer, but in the midst of her parents’ collapsing marriage, she must decide whether the path to success lies in marriage, love, or pursuing her artistic ambition.
More about the festival:
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