23rd Annual Israeli Film Festival
June 4, 7, 11 and 14
7:00 pm ▸ Doors open at 6:40 pm
Soloway JCC, 21 Nadolny Sachs Private
All films are in Hebrew with English subtitles.
Tickets: $18
- Tickets available online. Full-time students (with ID) are free.
- Limited number of tickets ($20) will be available at the door, cash only.
In the News:
Thursday, June 4
Bella
75 min
When Yaki discovers—too late—that Bella, a curly-plumed, prize-winning dove and his sole inheritance, has vanished, he sets off with his childhood friend and their wives for a madcap journey through Israel to bring her back. Their pursuit hurtles through wedding crashes, stolen cars, tense checkpoints, and a hilariously awkward family reconciliation ceremony—all in a frantic race to reclaim Bella before Jerusalem’s prestigious dove beauty pageant.
Co-produced by two-time Cannes Palme d’Or winners the Dardenne brothers and legendary Israeli producer Moshe Edery, nominated for Best Film at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
When Yaki discovers—too late—that Bella, a curly-plumed, prize-winning dove and his sole inheritance, has vanished, he sets off with his childhood friend and their wives for a madcap journey through Israel to bring her back. Their pursuit hurtles through wedding crashes, stolen cars, tense checkpoints, and a hilariously awkward family reconciliation ceremony—all in a frantic race to reclaim Bella before Jerusalem’s prestigious dove beauty pageant.
Beneath its wild, over-the-top antics, Bella cleverly uses its feathered fugitive as a playful metaphor for the Middle East’s divisions and the fragile hopes for reconciliation. Bursting with infectious energy and cross-cultural humor, the film delivers outrageous laughs alongside a surprisingly heartfelt reflection on unity and understanding.
Sunday, June 7
Air War
106 min
The story follows a young, fearless lieutenant who, after single-handedly shooting down six Egyptian MiGs, is promoted to command a fighter squadron. His new role sparks a fierce rivalry with the disciplined second-in-command, whose methodical approach clashes with the lieutenant’s reckless style. As tensions rise and their squadron’s performance falters, the two must learn to work together to lead their team to victory on the eve of the Six-Day War, when their country’s fate hangs in the balance.
A movie by Roy Hornshtein, which tells an upbeat story of an IAF base on the eve of the Six Day War, featuring handsome stars, romance, and rivalry.
Air War is a heartfelt and exhilarating box office sensation that took fifteen years to create. It finally brings the Israeli Air Force to the big screen. With the air force holding a special place in Israel, where IAF pilots are revered as the elite of the elite, it’s surprising that a film of this magnitude has taken so long to emerge. The story follows a young, fearless lieutenant who, after single-handedly shooting down six Egyptian MiGs, is promoted to command a fighter squadron. His new role sparks a fierce rivalry with the disciplined second-in-command, whose methodical approach clashes with the lieutenant’s reckless style. As tensions rise and their squadron’s performance falters, the two must learn to work together to lead their team to victory on the eve of the Six-Day War, when their country’s fate hangs in the balance.
Thursday, June 11
Love, Statistically Speaking*
90 min
Heartfelt, witty, and brimming with warmth, Love, Statistically Speaking is a story about family, unexpected connections, and the joy of embracing life’s unpredictable moments. It’s a comedy that proves even the most methodical among us can’t calculate the magic of human relationships.
In this charming, feel-good comedy from acclaimed Israeli director Amichai Greenberg, eighty-year-old actuary Reuben is a man who has always lived by the numbers. But when he unexpectedly loses both his beloved wife and her life insurance money at the local swimming pool, his carefully calculated world is thrown into chaos.
Forced into an unlikely alliance with his free-spirited granddaughter, Reuben embarks on a hilariously bumbling investigation among the pool’s quirky, unforgettable regulars. Along the way, the pair discovers that life—and love—are full of surprises that no spreadsheet or probability chart can ever predict.
Heartfelt, witty, and brimming with warmth, Love, Statistically Speaking is a story about family, unexpected connections, and the joy of embracing life’s unpredictable moments. It’s a comedy that proves even the most methodical among us can’t calculate the magic of human relationships.
*Partially supported by the Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies
Sunday, June 14
Jaffa Stories*
100 min
Based on the cult-classic tales of Israeli writer Menahem Talmi, Jaffa Stories bursts to life as a vibrant comic feature about the legendary Gang of Jaffa—unforgettable streetwise characters who talk fast, fight hard, and live by their own offbeat code. Between the port, the square, and the shoreline, the rules of survival are written in fists, knives, and clever comebacks—but beneath the grit and swagger lies humor, tenderness, and undeniable heart. With its irresistible slang, quirky dialogue, and a cast of unforgettable misfits, Jaffa Stories captures the rough-and-tumble poetry of everyday life in one of Israel’s most storied cities.
Based on the cult-classic tales of Israeli writer Menahem Talmi, Jaffa Stories bursts to life as a vibrant comic feature about the legendary Gang of Jaffa—unforgettable streetwise characters who talk fast, fight hard, and live by their own offbeat code. Between the port, the square, and the shoreline, the rules of survival are written in fists, knives, and clever comebacks—but beneath the grit and swagger lies humor, tenderness, and undeniable heart. With its irresistible slang, quirky dialogue, and a cast of unforgettable misfits, Jaffa Stories captures the rough-and-tumble poetry of everyday life in one of Israel’s most storied cities.
Laced with dark humor and vivid local color, the film pays homage to a bygone era of hustlers, dreamers, and survivors—people who may live on society’s edge, but whose spirit, loyalty, and humor shine through every punchline and every heartbreak. Playful, gritty, and full of soul, Jaffa Stories is a love letter to the city and its people—a celebration of language, resilience, and the timeless art of storytelling.
*Partially supported by the Max and Tessie Zelikovitz Centre for Jewish Studies
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