‘To Rome’ opens Jerusalem Film fest

A favorite 10 days in Jerusalem began Thursday night with the opening of the 29th Jerusalem Film Festival, the open-air screening of Woody Allen’s “To Rome With Love” at the Sultan’s Pool amphitheater.

For all the hardships of the stiff, folding chair-seating at Sultan’s Pool, there is always something magical about sitting under the stars in the cool Jerusalem night air, watching the film chosen to open this very Jerusalem-esque festival. The fun continues for the following 10 days, as Jerusalemites, tourists, visitors and film buffs wander from theater to theater, choosing from more than 200 films made worldwide and by a wide variety of filmmakers.

From Israeli cinema and indie cinema, to films focusing on human rights, the Arab world and the quest for freedom, there is always something to watch. At times, the best films are those chosen in the final moments before the screening, when it seems like all the “good” movies are sold out, but you can end up seeing something that you wouldn’t have normally chosen for a regular night at the movies.

There are also several special events during the festival, including pitching sessions for young filmmakers. The 10:00 a.m. July 8 Pitch Point session at the nearby Mishkenot Sha’ananim is open to the public. So too is an all-day conference on Wednesday, July 11, on Israeli documentary cinema, also at Mishkenot.

Head over to the Cinematheque to choose films and buy tickets, or go online, although the website isn’t always as clear as it could be. It’s a summer treat that shouldn’t be missed.