The artistic director of Israel’s International Women’s Film Festival is hopeful that a new venue will be found for the event.
The 11th edition of the festival was pulled after the festival’s support from host city Rehovot could no longer back the event.
But artistic director Netalie Braun is currently in discussions with other potential venues for the event, which has previously spotlighted directors including Jane Campion, Claire Denis, Margarethe Von Trotta, Lucrecia Martel, Sally Potter and Kelly Reichardt.
“The festival has made a total change in women in Israel,” she told Screen. “Now there are many more women filmmakers who help each other. The Israeli Film Funds weren’t aware of the extent of the problem before. The change is big but it’s not yet 50/50 as we hope it can be.”
Braun, whose short Vow will screen at the festival, praised the Jerusalem programmers for the number of women directors selected for the event.
According to organisers, around 30% of the features are directed by women, with that number rising significantly among Israeli films.
“Around one third of the 30-35 features made in Israel this year have been made by women,” said Braun. “That’s a better ratio than last year. I hope we can get there. One day we might not even need a women’s festival.”
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