Films are an important piece of the culture and have always been very important and representative of nations. For example, Hollywood in the United States and Bollywood in India. Since 1995, Berlin has hosted the Jewish Film Festival and is one of the oldest of its kind in Europe. The festival is an important event for the Jewish population in Berlin, which is approximately 40,0000. This year it is scheduled to take place from the 26th June to the 5th of July.

The festival features cinematic explorations of the many facets of Jewish life and its constant transformation, in Germany, Israel, Europe, and the rest of the world. They present the entire range of current cinema — from sophisticated, independent, arthouse films to documentaries to essayistic and experimental work. Discovering and promoting young filmmakers in Germany and Israel is an important part of the festival’s work. In the series of Israeli films, the organizers showcase stories about people and their everyday lives beyond the clichés in traditional media to provides differentiated perspectives on a people that is as diverse and contradictory as Israel itself.

The incentive for producers to participate in this festival is not only greater recognition but alsocash prizes.  Three distinct categories are:

1) Audience Award: Cinemagoers can vote for the director that should receive a prize of 2000eur.

2) Best Israeli Film Award: This award honors dedication and outstanding individual cinematographic achievements by Israeli film directors. The prize is of 3000eur.

3) Best German Documentary on a Jewish Theme: This prize is of 2000eur.

The films, documentaries, and other works taking part in the festival can be seen in different cinemas around Berlin. Below you will find the cinemas used in the 2017 festival, please check each individual cinema’s website for updated information:

City Kino Wedding
Delphie LUX
Filmkunst 66
fsk Kino
IL Kino
Filmtheater im Russischen Haus
Kino in der Kulturbrauerei
Zeughauskino
Hans Otto Theater Potsdam

• - https://www.berlin.de/en/events/2525771-2842498-jewish-film-festival.en.html
• - https://www.jfbb.de/en/content/festival