At Jerusalem Film Festival, Jennifer Jason Leigh calls to bring hostages home
Actress honored at annual film event, speaks Hebrew to make emotional plea for captives’ return
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Actress Jennifer Jason Leigh, in Israel for the first time to receive a letter of recognition at the Jerusalem Film Festival, used Hebrew in her opening speech on Thursday night to call to bring Israeli hostages home from Gaza.
“I pray every day for the release of the hostages, five times an hour, every morning when I wake up and when I go to sleep,” said Jason Leigh in a voice trembling with emotion, adding in Hebrew, “Be strong and courageous and bring them home now!”
Jason Leigh was speaking at the opening event of the annual film festival, which lasts 10 days.
She was awarded a letter of recognition onstage at the opening ceremony, presented by award-winning actress Reymonde Amsalem, the star and co-screenwriter of Israeli film “7 Blessings.”
Jason Leigh said during her speech that it was very meaningful for her to be in Israel and at the film festival opening, as an actress and as a Jew.
“It is my first time in Israel, but it doesn’t mean that Israel isn’t in my thoughts every day that passes,” said Jason Leigh.
She spoke of growing up in Los Angeles, in a family of proud Jews. Every year, she said, her mother would serve them apples and honey for the Jewish New Year, and would say, “Next year in Jerusalem.”
“Films connect people, and a film can change your perspective, your views of the world,” said Jason Leigh. “To be here tonight is a phenomenal experience for me.”
Four of Jason Leigh’s films are being screened during the festival, including a sold-out screening Thursday of “The Hateful Eight” that was supposed to take place with director Quentin Tarantino, who canceled at the last minute for personal reasons.
Jason Leigh was nominated for an Academy Award for her work in the 2015 film.
Other speakers at the opening event included Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion and film festival director Roni Mahadav-Levin, CEO of the Jerusalem Cinematheque, the city’s arthouse theater that hosts the annual event.
Both spoke about the deliberations over whether to hold the festival this summer, against the backdrop of the ongoing war, and with 120 still hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, and soldiers still fighting to defend the country.
“Cultural creation is a source of optimism, hope and routine,” said Mahadav-Levin. “We hope through the stories told over the next 10 days that we will be able to supply belief or hope like the hero of our opening film, ‘Thelma.'”
“Thelma,” starring the 94-year-old June Squibb and written, directed and edited by improv comedian Josh Margolin, offers a feel-good story by the first-time director, whose 103-year-old grandmother inspired the film.
Other notables at the opening event included Israeli director Guy Nattiv and Iranian screenwriter Elham Erfani, who co-wrote “Tatimi” with Nattiv, which deals with Iranian exiled athletes and which is also being screened during the 41st film festival.
