IDFA 1996
Jerusalem, Rhythms of a Distant City
Dan Geva
Israel
1992
12 min
n.a.
Part of 'Archives Present' IDFA 1996
The Israel Film Archive - International and Israeli Collection- was founded by Wim and Lia van Leer in 1961. Two years later the Archive became a member of FIAF. The Archive's first priority is to collect, preserve and restore Israel's film history and related materials. The Archive was officially declared and recognized as the repository for feature films and documentaries and as an acting National Archive for the State of Israel.The Israel Film Archive contains over 19.000 film prints - from Hollywood Classics, international feature films, documentaries, restored negatives, animation, short subjects, Jewish interest films to Israeli films past and present. Singularly one of the most important historical Israeli film collections is the Nathan Axelrod Carmel Newsreels (1927-1958).In recognition of the importance of film as a record of the Jewish people, the Israel Film Archive created a separate division: The Center for Preservation of Jewish and Israeli Film. This division is dedicated to the research, acquisition, preservation of film material that reflects the many faces of the Jewish experience. The Center houses the world's most comprehensive collection of films documenting the Jewish world. Cinematic records of vanished communities and disappearing traditions as well as films on the Eastern European shtetl and propaganda films from the Nazi era are continually retrieved and preserved.The Jerusalem Film Festival is held every year since 1984 and is Israel's most prestigious cinematic event. The ten day program offers 150 films in a wide spectrum of categories and themes, including recent cinema, documentaries, avant garde, short films, animation, retrospectives, classics and restorations, Mediterranean Cinema, Israeli Cinema and Jewish films. Several prizes and awards at the Festival include: Wolgin Awards for Israeli Cinema; Wim van Leer In Spirit of Freedom (international competition) and Mediterranean Cinema (international competition).The Film Education Program offers programs for primary school; secondary and high school students; special education students; as well as courses for adults and professionals. The curriculum for the Film Education Program is developed with the support of the Ministry of Education; Jerusalem Municipality and teaching professionals. Every year subject materials are reviewed and updated.The Jerusalem Cinematheque is open seven nights a week. The Cinematheque maintains two auditoriums - the large auditorium seats over 350 and the small auditorium seats 100. Over 150.000 film buffs per year attend screenings at the Cinematheque. Annual membership continues to increase, with 5.230 members in 1995. The screening program provides audiences with the unique opportunity to view film classics, restorations, retrospectives, latest hits, world premiere screenings; plus music and film programs and special events.Programme reviewThe Israel Film Archive presents: IN JERUSALEM, directed by David Perlov and ST. JEAN, directed by Julie Shles.The two different subject matters of these films reflect specific aspects of Israel - from the pounding heart of the hilltop city of Jerusalem to the seaside caravan site for immigrants. Two poetic documentaries that are not confied by a script, but following the directors wandering souls and probing questions. Eternity's consistency, the break down of mankind's dreams, and the discover of new hopes.
The Israel Film Archive - International and Israeli Collection- was founded by Wim and Lia van Leer in 1961. Two years later the Archive became a member of FIAF. The Archive's first priority is to collect, preserve and restore Israel's film history and related materials. The Archive was officially declared and recognized as the repository for feature films and documentaries and as an acting National Archive for the State of Israel.The Israel Film Archive contains over 19.000 film prints - from Hollywood Classics, international feature films, documentaries, restored negatives, animation, short subjects, Jewish interest films to Israeli films past and present. Singularly one of the most important historical Israeli film collections is the Nathan Axelrod Carmel Newsreels (1927-1958).In recognition of the importance of film as a record of the Jewish people, the Israel Film Archive created a separate division: The Center for Preservation of Jewish and Israeli Film. This division is dedicated to the research, acquisition, preservation of film material that reflects the many faces of the Jewish experience. The Center houses the world's most comprehensive collection of films documenting the Jewish world. Cinematic records of vanished communities and disappearing traditions as well as films on the Eastern European shtetl and propaganda films from the Nazi era are continually retrieved and preserved.The Jerusalem Film Festival is held every year since 1984 and is Israel's most prestigious cinematic event. The ten day program offers 150 films in a wide spectrum of categories and themes, including recent cinema, documentaries, avant garde, short films, animation, retrospectives, classics and restorations, Mediterranean Cinema, Israeli Cinema and Jewish films. Several prizes and awards at the Festival include: Wolgin Awards for Israeli Cinema; Wim van Leer In Spirit of Freedom (international competition) and Mediterranean Cinema (international competition).The Film Education Program offers programs for primary school; secondary and high school students; special education students; as well as courses for adults and professionals. The curriculum for the Film Education Program is developed with the support of the Ministry of Education; Jerusalem Municipality and teaching professionals. Every year subject materials are reviewed and updated.The Jerusalem Cinematheque is open seven nights a week. The Cinematheque maintains two auditoriums - the large auditorium seats over 350 and the small auditorium seats 100. Over 150.000 film buffs per year attend screenings at the Cinematheque. Annual membership continues to increase, with 5.230 members in 1995. The screening program provides audiences with the unique opportunity to view film classics, restorations, retrospectives, latest hits, world premiere screenings; plus music and film programs and special events.Programme reviewThe Israel Film Archive presents: IN JERUSALEM, directed by David Perlov and ST. JEAN, directed by Julie Shles.The two different subject matters of these films reflect specific aspects of Israel - from the pounding heart of the hilltop city of Jerusalem to the seaside caravan site for immigrants. Two poetic documentaries that are not confied by a script, but following the directors wandering souls and probing questions. Eternity's consistency, the break down of mankind's dreams, and the discover of new hopes.