Lights, camera, Israel! This June, the Soloway Jewish Community Centre (SJCC) will once again transform into a hub of cinematic storytelling as it hosts the 22nd annual Israeli Film Festival. In partnership with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa, this much-anticipated event has become one of the city’s most dynamic celebrations of Israeli culture—offering local audiences a rare chance to experience the richness, complexity, and creativity of Israeli cinema right here in Ottawa. 

“During the year, I try to see every Israeli film and then make sure I program the best ones relevant to our community,” says Ella Dagan, the Vered Israel Cultural & Educational Centre Manager at the SJCC.

While the films selected don’t have a common theme, they each touch on something related to the Israeli experience.

“We keep the programs diverse and avoid any two movies that are too similar,” said Dagan. “I am particularly proud of that this year.”

The festival begins on June 5 with a showing of the film The Ring starring comedian Adir Miller, as well as Tikva Dayan and Yarden Gerbi. The movie is about the descendants of a Holocaust survivor returning to Hungary to find and return a ring that was used to bribe a soldier to stop the family from getting deported.

On June 8, Midlife will be shown. This film deals with religious and romantic themes. Featuring Chen Amsalem Zaguri, one of Israel’s most famous actors, this film deals with sisters who have led different lives that are brought back together due to their circumstances.

A movie about the Yom Kippur War in 1973, The Stronghold, will play on June 12. Starring Michael Aloni, who many know internationally from the Israeli Netflix show Shtisel, the film tells the true story of Dr. Nahum Werbin, who got trapped at a besieged outpost, and puts the lives of soldiers in his unit before the need for victory. 

Lastly, on June 15th, the film Soda will be screened. Lior Raz, who plays the main character Shalom Gottlieb, is a former partisan leader and factory foreman in a working-class Israeli neighbourhood. Set in 1954, he encounters a seamstress named Eva, who becomes his main love interest, but has secrets about her past in Europe. 

These films are not meant only for Israeli audiences. While the dialogue in each film is spoken in Hebrew, there will be English subtitles so that all who attend will be able to follow along.

“I hope to welcome a diverse audience for this amazing experience and to enrich the Canadian vision of Israel’s … cross-culturalism,” said Dagan.

All films are shown at 7:00 pm on the dates mentioned, with doors opening at 6:40 pm. The tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online; however, students can come for free if they show their student IDs at the door.

There will be a limited number of tickets available at the door and are not guaranteed. Tickets at the door can only be purchased in cash.

To learn more about the Israeli Film Festival and to purchase tickets, click here