Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival - Opening Night

Soda

Nominated for 3 Israeli Academy Awards, this wonderful historical drama follows a group of former Resistance fighters and young Holocaust survivors who settle as a community in 1950s Israel. The group works at the local soda bottling plant. Their leader – played by the enigmatic Lior Raz (Fauda) – is a married man who is intrigued by the beautiful neighbor (Rotem Sela) who moves in next door – a woman rumored to have been a Kapo during the Holocaust. Directed by Erez Tadmor and loosely based on his Partisan grandfather. Special Opening Event in Scottsdale at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. The film will be followed by a talkback with the costars and the director. In Peoria the film will be preceded by the short I LOVE YOU MORE.

Followed by questions and answers on stage with the stars, Lior Raz and Rotem Sela, and the director, Erez Tadmor.

Note: Special pricing for Opening Night tickets: $25 each.
Passes and donor voucher ticket packs will be honored, with a reservation. Please send any questions or your pass reservation to support@gpjff.org.

Lior Raz is an Israeli actor, writer, and producer, best known for co-creating and starring in the hit TV series Fauda, which portrays the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lens of an elite counterterrorism unit. Born in 1971 in Israel, Raz served in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a special forces soldier, which deeply influenced his work. His career spans both television and film, with Fauda earning international acclaim for its gritty realism and compelling storytelling.

Rotem Sela is an Israeli actress, model, and television host, known for her roles in popular Israeli TV series and her work in the fashion industry. Born in 1983, Sela gained widespread recognition for her performances in Beauty and the Baker and The Baker and the Beauty. Beyond acting, she is also a prominent media personality and has been involved in various social causes throughout her career.

Erez Tadmor is an Israeli director and screenwriter known for his distinctive storytelling in film and television. He directed GPJFF selections A Matter of Size (2009), The Art of Waiting (2019), Matchmaking (2022), Children of Nobody (2022), and this year Soda and Matchmaking 2. He also directed Helen Mirren in Golda (2023). Tadmor’s work is marked by a deep emotional resonance and his ability to tackle complex human experiences through compelling narratives.

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