Gal Gadot Takes Center Stage at Jerusalem Film Festival

Gal Gadot, the Israeli-international star, will be the main guest of honor at the opening ceremony of the 42nd Jerusalem International Film Festival. The festive ceremony will take place on July 17 at the Sultan’s Pool, where Gadot will receive a special award recognizing her significant contributions to international cinema, alongside esteemed American producer Lawrence Bender.

Return to Roots at the Festival’s Core

The opening ceremony is part of Israel’s longest-running and leading film festival, established in 1984 by Lia van Leer, Israel Prize laureate and founder of the Jerusalem Cinematheque. Over more than four decades, the festival has become a prestigious and central event, attracting approximately 70,000 film enthusiasts from Israel and worldwide each year.

Gadot, who recently became the first Israeli to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, returns to celebrate in the city where her remarkable international career began. She joins a distinguished list of past guests of honor, including luminaries such as Robert De Niro, Helen Mirren, Quentin Tarantino, Wim Wenders, Roman Polanski, and other international cinema icons.

The Film Festival in Its Fourth Generation

The festival, held annually over ten days each summer, showcases more than 200 films from 60 countries, continuing its tradition of promoting Israeli cinema alongside the best of global filmmaking. Over the years, it has served as a vital platform for Israeli filmmakers and a significant launchpad for local films.

The festival specializes in presenting a diverse range of cinematic styles, from mainstream to avant-garde, documentaries, animation, and retrospectives of leading filmmakers. The iconic opening ceremony at the Sultan’s Pool, attended by a crowd of 6,000, has become one of the most distinctive and recognized cultural events in Israel.

Lawrence Bender: A Respected Hollywood Partner

Alongside Gadot, the festival will honor American producer Lawrence Bender, known for iconic films such as Pulp Fiction and Good Will Hunting. Bender, whose films have won nine Academy Awards, is celebrated for his successful collaboration with director Quentin Tarantino and for producing landmark films in contemporary cinema.

In Bender’s words: “After October 7th, I saw a community standing alone against the global front, and I realized it was time to focus more on the people I belong to. That is why receiving the Jerusalem Film Festival’s award is so meaningful to me.”

A Cultural Meeting Point in Jerusalem

The festival, expected to draw 70,000 visitors, will present a wide array of cinematic works from Israel and abroad. The program includes premieres, local and international competitions, and encounters with leading filmmakers.

The ceremony at the Sultan’s Pool, held before an audience of 6,000, symbolizes the organizers’ commitment to fostering a meeting point between cultures and connecting local and international cinema, even, or perhaps especially, during challenging times.

The festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture, the Van Leer Foundation, the Jerusalem Foundation, and the Jerusalem Municipality, under the direction of Roni Mahadav-Levin and Or Sigoli.