Cannes-Winning ‘Sentimental Value’ to Headline Jerusalem Film Festival’s Summer Return

The 42nd edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival is sticking to its July dates — with big names, fresh films, and a lot of heart.

As the temperature rises across the ancient hills of Jerusalem, the city’s annual cultural centerpiece is prepping for its 42nd edition — and it’s kicking off with a major coup. Joachim Trier’s “Sentimental Value,” fresh off its Grand Prix win at Cannes, will open the Jerusalem Film Festival on July 17, screened under the stars at the iconic Sultan’s Pool.

This year’s event runs from July 17 through July 26, promising a packed schedule of screenings, panels, premieres, and red-carpet guests. Among them? Israeli superstar Gal Gadot and Oscar-winning producer Lawrence Bender, both expected to make appearances during the festival’s ten-day run.

A Cannes Darling Brings Star Power to Jerusalem’s Outdoor Stage

Trier’s film has already earned buzz for its emotional depth and stellar cast. “Sentimental Value” is a quiet, aching drama about grief, artistic ambition, and the complex lines between life and art.

Stellan Skarsgård plays Gustav, a legendary filmmaker reeling from the recent death of his wife. His daughter, Nora (played by Renate Reinsve), is an accomplished actress — and the woman he hopes will lead his next, painfully personal film. She refuses. Instead, the role goes to a rising American talent, played by Elle Fanning.

The tension? Palpable. The family? Fractured.

But the performances — restrained, raw, riveting — have critics still reeling since Cannes wrapped.

The Jerusalem screening will take place outdoors, with nearly 6,000 viewers expected to fill the stone amphitheater at Sultan’s Pool. The venue, nestled between ancient walls and olive trees, is part of what makes this festival so unique.

One industry guest, speaking anonymously, called it “hands down the most surreal place I’ve ever watched a film — you look up from the screen and see the Old City walls glowing behind you.”

Israeli Cinema Takes Center Stage — Again

While “Sentimental Value” is undoubtedly the international headliner, the festival’s soul remains deeply local. This year, eight Israeli feature films will compete for the prestigious Haggiag Prize for Best Israeli Feature.

Those titles haven’t all been made public yet, but we do know one: “Nandauri,” directed by a rising Israeli talent and shot across rural Galilee. The film dives into generational trauma, land inheritance, and cultural disconnect — themes that have shown up often in the post-October 7th Israeli filmmaking landscape.

That backdrop — of war, of dislocation, of political unease — hasn’t gone unnoticed. Many of the filmmakers this year are weaving those threads into intimate personal stories rather than overt political messaging. One juror said, “The art is still there, but it’s been cracked open by reality.”

There’s also a new crop of young directors and screenwriters — many of them women — who are making their Jerusalem debut.

Gal Gadot, Lawrence Bender, and a Very Curious Crowd

A-listers aren’t just limited to the screen this summer.

Gal Gadot is expected to make a high-profile appearance during the festival’s first weekend. She won’t be promoting a film of her own, but sources say she’s supporting an Israeli short film about female soldiers, produced by a nonprofit she funds. The film is scheduled to screen in the festival’s Women in Uniforms sidebar.

Oscar-winning producer Lawrence Bender (“Pulp Fiction,” “An Inconvenient Truth”) will headline a conversation on sustainability in film production. His panel is part of a new initiative by the festival aimed at spotlighting green filmmaking practices.

In the middle of all that? People. Lots of them.

• Over 200 films expected from more than 40 countries

• Estimated attendance: 75,000+ across 10 days

• Nearly 100 public screenings, workshops, and networking events

“It’s become the cultural anchor of the summer,” says Aya Metzger, a Tel Aviv-based film editor who’s been attending the festival for over a decade. “Even people who aren’t huge film buffs come for the atmosphere. It’s very Jerusalem — chaotic and sacred, somehow all at once.”

A Festival That’s More Than Just Movies

One section of the program that’s quietly gained steam over the past few years is the festival’s hybrid film and live music night — think indie rock bands playing under a silent film, or jazz quartets improvising to animated shorts.

This year’s marquee event in that category will feature the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra performing an original score to accompany a screening of Fritz Lang’s 1927 classic Metropolis. It’s one of those events that doesn’t happen anywhere else in the country.

There’s also the late-night “Midnight Screenings” series, which tends to draw younger crowds. Expect horror, weird sci-fi, and the occasional controversial feature pulled from festivals like Berlinale or Rotterdam.

But wait, there’s more. Here’s a quick look at the special event calendar:

It’s not just screenings — it’s a whole summer microcosm packed into ten days. Between terrace parties in Talbiya and informal Q&As at the Cinematheque bar, the lines blur between artist and audience.

Even Through Crisis, the Show Goes On

For a country still dealing with the aftershocks of recent violence, the decision to keep the festival on schedule is seen by many as an act of cultural resilience. There were early fears the event might be postponed or downsized. But organizers stayed firm.

“It’s important to keep the rhythm of culture alive,” one festival staffer told me. “We thought long and hard about it, and in the end, art is what helps us stay connected. Even — maybe especially — when things are hard.”

Security will be tighter than usual, especially for the bigger outdoor events. Festival passes have already sold out for three days, and hotel rooms in West Jerusalem are reportedly booked to the brim.

Still, spirits remain high. Even in uncertain times, Jerusalem in July is stubbornly — almost defiantly — hopeful.

And for 10 nights, the glow from the giant screen might just outshine everything else.