Sarah Friedland, an American-Jewish director accepting the Luigi De Laurentiis Prize for Best First Film, said, “As a Jewish American, I’m accepting this award on the 336th day of Israel’s genocide."
The film was produced by Alex Gibney and directed by Alexis Bloom.
Bliss tells the story of a couple, played by Sasson Gabay and Assi Levy, who struggle to make ends meet and live in northern Israel.
It tells the inspiring story of a team that went into the Olympics as the ultimate underdogs. No one expected the team to qualify for the games at all.
The movie is the story of an illicit and immoral relationship, the kind that once upon a time was winked at when the younger person was a male teenager but is now viewed as a criminal offense.
Amid regional tensions, the 41st Jerusalem Film Festival showcased vibrant new Israeli cinema, from debut films to innovative storytelling.
The movie tells the story of a construction worker from Rahat, the largest Bedouin city in the Negev, and was among varied films to win prizes.
The festival announced its lineup on Tuesday and several Israeli films will be included, although none in the main competition.
The 41st Jerusalem Film Festival will open with the comic revenge film Thelma and will honor American-Jewish actress Jennifer Jason Leigh. Check out the other movies being screened.
The festival, which will include hundreds of new movies from around the world and from Israel, will run at the Jerusalem Cinematheque until July 27.
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