Jeers for Regev, cheers for Van Leer at film fest kickoff

The opening of the Jerusalem International Film Festival was punctuated Thursday night by booing for Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev (Likud) and remembrances for Lia Van Leer, the doyenne of the country’s film scene who died earlier this year.

Hundreds of people crowded the Sultan’s Pool amphitheater outside the Old City walls for the opening of the festival, which featured an open-air screening of the Italian film Mia Madre (My Mother) and an award ceremony for American actor John Turturro, who stars in the film.

“This is surreal for me. I always wanted to come to Jerusalem, but not to receive an award,” Turturro said after receiving the prize from Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

Despite the New York-born actor and director’s masterful performance, the evening was scored by the jagged intersection of culture and politics, as Regev was treated to boos and light heckling by the crowd of film buffs and industry insiders.

Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat (right) gives an award to American actor John Turturro (left) during the opening night of the Jerusalem Film Festival held at Sultan’s Pool, outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, on July 9, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

Regev told the audience she wanted to have an open dialogue across the spectrum of opinions in the cultural world, drawing light applause.

But immediately after, she drew loud boos when she said she planned to “redefine and update the priorities of the cultural world in Israel.”

Writing on Facebook later, Regev said she would not be quieted.

“It’s a shame that the creative community chose to respond like that at such a festive event,” she wrote. “I will say my piece, even if they try to shut my mouth.”

The scene was a repeat of the opening of the Israel Festival at the same venue over a month earlier, when Regev’s speech at the start of a concert was drowned out by jeers.

The minister has clashed with the cultural world several times over the past months over what some say are her attempts to politicize the arts world by defunding certain projects.

Ahead of the festival opening, she threatened to pull support over the screening of a bio-pic about the life of Yigal Amir, who assassinated former prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. A compromise reached between her and festival organizers allowed the movie to be shown Wednesday night, but not officially listed in the festival’s line-up.

Speaking before Regev, President Reuven Rivlin said the furor over the movie and Regev’s moves have crossed the lines of decency in the press and elsewhere.

President Reuven Rivlin speaks during the opening night of the Jerusalem Film Festival held at Sultan’s Pool, outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, on July 9, 2015. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)

“We cannot hide from disagreement or whitewash them, but at the same time, we need to sit together and understand how we can join forces for the greater good of the blooming of Israeli culture.”

Rivlin also said he views the Israeli film industry as an ambassador to the world, even including films that are critical of the country.

“There’s no international film festival in the world today without Israeli films,” he said.

The opening night was also notable for who was not there, namely Lia Van Leer, who had been a major force in the Israeli film industry until her death in March at age 90.

Van Leer founded the Jerusalem Cinematheque and established the Jerusalem Film Festival, making this year the first without her, and speakers each took turns praising her commitment to film in the capital.

“She was the mother of the Cinematheque and the Jerusalem Film Festival,” Barkat said before a short retrospective of her life was screened in the amphitheater. “I loved her. Her smile, her embrace, her love of life. She connected us all to her love of film and the intimate connection to film in Jerusalem.”

The festival, now in its 32nd year, will run until July 19 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque.