Documentary Film
Festival at the National
Library of Israel

Wim Wenders’ film—a study of Anselm Kiefer’s monumental artworks and a dialogue between two phenomenal artists—achieves what only great art can: It extends the limits of the viewers' consciousness.

There is talent aplenty in The Chopin Piano Competition—THE springboard to a brilliant international career. An intimate behind-the-scenes visit reveals the human, heartwarming, and humorous side of young men and women in the tense moments on the cusp of their dreams (maybe) coming true. Naturally, the music is terrific.

A harrowing glimpse through the eyes of individuals who endured the brutal October 7th onslaught at the Nova music festival.

When she plays the audio reels she uncovered in the archive, she hears the voice of her mother, journalist and photographer Sheila Turner Seed, for the first time. Her next step is to piece together a portrait of the woman who has been absent from her life.

Can modern technology realize the dream of eternal life? Yes, say the sci-fi optimists in Silicon Valley, who are determined to make death obsolete through artificial intelligence in a film that soberly and thoughtfully raises the biggest questions - and provides possible answers.

Feminine personal portrait of a German aristocratic family who used their privileged position to save Jews from a concentration camp that was erected on their land. The three women are not afraid to confront the difficult past of their family.

Dalia Friedland in her final performance struggles with the remnants of her fading memory, oscillating between the stage and the starkness of reality, where she takes on the leading role.

The remarkable life of one of Israel's prominent poets, Natan Yonatan, who was born a century ago and died twenty years ago. A portrait of a man whose own tragedy became the soundtrack of the Land of Israel.

A multilingual, intellectually stimulating yet deeply personal exploration of the consonant “R,” its varied pronunciations, and how they reflect where we come from—or where we wish to belong.

A Siberian mother-of-three finds herself under the aggressive scrutiny of the Russian authorities when she steps up as a citizen journalist and uncovers a huge coal scandal. A revealing journalistic thriller with deep personal consequences.

A colorful kaleidoscope of Loïe Fuller—an original and spectacular stage artist, a pioneer of performance art, a woman who defined the spirit of modernity and acted on instinct against convention, and whose influence is still felt today, from Kentridge to Taylor Swift.

A journey through the beloved world of children's picture books, led by three contemporary stars of the new "golden age" of kids' lit, using, archival access, untapped insights, and stop-motion paper animation to explore timely new work.

A visceral and transformative encounter between a Holocaust survivor and the son of Auschwitz’s commandant helps those who have grappled with history's dark shadow find a path to atonement, forgiveness, and shared hope for the next generation.

The story of Rabbi Israel Abuhzira and his brother, Rabbi Yizhak, the leader of the Sephardic Religious Zionists. From their youth in Morocco, through their prominence in Israel where they became influential figures, forming three generations of an Israeli-Moroccan powerhouse.

Discover how Rabbi Ovadia Yosef rose to be Israel's most influential figure. Director Ofer Pinchasov unveils his life story, accessing unseen Yosef family segments. Gain insight into his political journey with unprecedented access to his inner circle

דברי ברכה: הראשון לציון, הרב שלמה משה עמאר

An obsessive director for Israel’s first private detective uses AI animation to bring back to life a murder investigation from 1937 that exposes an international spy network.

80 years are gone since The Little Prince was released. Author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was also a pilot, and we follow his last four years from his US exile to when his plane in 1944 disappeared over The Mediterranean without any trace.

Amber, a happiness agent sent by the Kingdom of Bhutan, travels the small country to meet the locals and find out what makes them happy, all while searching for fulfillment and love himself. A fascinating glimpse into a beautiful and secluded country, as seen through the eyes of its people.

Jason Logan is something of an alchemist. He makes ink out of tree bark, rocks, herbs, and other natural ingredients he collects from all over the world. The film follows him and his clients—acclaimed artists with very particular preferences—and showcases the ancient traditions that inspire his work.

This collection of short films was produced as part of the social documentary project at Tel Aviv University's Steve Tisch School of Film and Television.

How does a shy ultra-Orthodox guy become a world master in Capoeira and how does the ultra-Orthodox community of his city, Bnei Brak, react to the revolution he is determined to bring about?

When Avi Nesher was 24 years old, he directed one of the most successful and influential films in Israeli film history called The Troupe. 50 years later and 20 movies under his belt, this time Nesher is the one in front of the camera.

Spanning five decades, this harrowing journey takes us back in time to hostage takeovers and kidnappings in Israel’s history and delves behind the scenes of Israel’s negotiations with terrorist organizations. The agonizing dilemmas of past hostage deals resonate deeply with the historic hostage crisis still unfolding before our eyes.

A harrowing glimpse through the eyes of individuals who endured the brutal October 7th onslaught at the Nova music festival. The filmmaker will attend the screening.

Director Renen Schorr follows his grandfather, Rabbi Avraham Heller, war hero of 1948 War in Safed. A duel: faith vs. film. Safed vs. Tel- Aviv. The grandson is asked to leave film-making for religion, and carry on Rabbi’s legacy.

My father-in-law Rudner left the kibbutz with a guitar on his back and a songbook, and moved to the big city. The band “Where's the Boy?” He founded another kibbutz, disbanded and the future looked uncertain. It would be many years before the band regrouped and conquered the chorus charts with the debut album that became a milestone in the history of Israeli rock — “Sugar Time”.