Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia

In 2024, the Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia marks its 28th year.

The Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia is a celebration of Israeli culture, with the aim of enriching the American vision of Israeli culture and society through film. Each season, a slate of feature films and documentaries are selected to provide a diverse and impartial reflection of Israel.

It is our goal to be both entertaining and informative. Our program includes feature films, dramas, comedies and documentaries that are award-winning and have received wide recognition both in Israel and abroad. As a non-profit organization, the continuing success of the IFF is due, in large part, to support from various organizations and private donors.

The IFF is funded through ticket sales, personal and corporate contributions, as well as in-kind contributions. Organizational support is provided by The Center for Israel and Overseas, the Consulate General of Israel in New York,  and a wide array of community partners.

Schedule:

3:00 pm: Generation 1.5

The massive Aliyah from the former USSR left an indelible mark on Israeli society. However, their integration into Israeli society was not without challenges and sacrifices. The film captures the profound narrative of the monumental exodus from the Soviet Union to Israel during the 1990s, as seen through the eyes of the “Generation 1.5”: those who were born in the USSR and immigrated to Israel as children or teenagers. Now, three decades later, fully assimilated adults, they grapple with their identity and sense of belonging in their adopted homeland. They contemplate the discrimination and racism experienced, the compromises made by them and their parents for assimilation, and question whether the profound life-altering shift was indeed worthwhile.

Admission: General $15, Students and seniors $13  

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7:00 pm: Home

In this explosive true-crime drama, a newly married young man's ambition to open a computer store in his ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood begets a shocking clash of tradition versus modernity. Devout yeshiva student Yair (Roy Nik) tries to support his family with a new business, introducing outside technology into the cloistered community. Despite efforts to adhere to strict Haredi rules, he faces vehement opposition from the locals, leading to rising tensions, the threat of violence, and marital strain, culminating in a decisive showdown. Nominated for 9 Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film, writer-director Benny Fredman's intense portrayal, based on personal experiences, offers a troubling yet potent commentary on the intersection of free will and religious dogmatism.

Admission: General $15, Students and seniors $13  

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