LIVE: English screening of Israel's Oscar pick 'Cinema Sabaya' + director interview

Join us on Dec. 6 in Jerusalem for an English-subtitled showing of the feel-good film and a conversation with director Orit Fouks Rotem and ToI’s Jessica Steinberg

To mark The Times of Israel’s 10-year anniversary, we are hosting a special series of live, in-person events this year under the banner ToI@10.

Ahead of the nominations for Best Foreign Film for the Academy Awards, on December 6 at Jerusalem’s Yes Planet, we’re holding a screening of “Cinema Sabaya,” which swept Israel’s Ophir Awards in September, and speaking with its creator Orit Fouks Rotem. In winning the Best Picture at the Ophir Awards, the film automatically became the country’s selection for consideration as a foreign film nominee at the 2023 Academy Awards in the United States.

‘Cinema Sabaya’ creator Orit Fouks Rotem (courtesy)

This is one of the first times “Cinema Sabaya” will be shown with English subtitles. The screening includes a conversation between first-time director Fouks Rotem and arts and culture editor Jessica Steinberg about the film and what initially prompted Fouks Rotem to write the screenplay.

Starring Dana Ivgy, the film tells the story of Arab and Jewish female municipal workers who take part in a video workshop, document their own lives and view each others’ — in the process challenging their own beliefs as they get to know one another.

In addition to Best Film, it also won the awards for Best Director for newcomer Fouks Rotem, Best Supporting Actress for Joanna Sayid, Best Costumes and Casting.

Please join us at Jerusalem’s Yes Planet on December 6, 2022, at 7 p.m., for the fourth event in our ToI@10 series, with an evening all about great Israeli filmmaking.