Arava film festival celebrates movies shaped by the desert
The 15th Arava International Film Festival runs November 4-14 near Tzukim, featuring two outdoor screens for the first time. The program includes nine Israeli premieres, international Cannes hits, and a Billy Wilder retrospective. Highlights include Reed Van Dyk's 'Atonement' starring Hiam Abbass and Kenneth Branagh, and Ruthy Pribar's 'What is to Come' with Ronit Yudkevitch.
The 15th Arava International Film Festival will take place from November 4-14 near Tzukim in the Central Arava, featuring an expanded two-screen setup for the first time. The festival, founded in 2012 by producer Eyal Shiray in partnership with the Central Arava Regional Council, offers outdoor screenings beneath the desert sky. This year's program includes nine Israeli premieres, international films from Cannes, and a tribute to Billy Wilder. Highlights include Reed Van Dyk's 'Atonement,' a drama about the Iraq War starring Hiam Abbass, Boyd Holbrook, and Kenneth Branagh, and Ruthy Pribar's 'What is to Come' with Ronit Yudkevitch. International filmmakers expected include Georgian director Levan Koguashvili. The second screening venue was made possible by a donation from the Vidor family.