Israeli and international star Gal Gadot will be a guest of honor at the 42nd Jerusalem Film Festival, and she will receive an award at the opening ceremonies which will be held at the Sultan’s Pool on July 17, 2025. Gadot began her career as a model and rose to fame with her portrayal of Wonder Woman. An internationally successful actor and producer, in 2025 she became the first Israeli actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The festival team commented: “Choosing Gal Gadot as the Guest of Honor at the 42nd edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival, was natural and clear. Gal began her career here in Israel and has become one of the best known stars internationally, while maintaining a deep connection to her Israeli roots. Gal is not just an international star, she is also a cultural ambassador for Israel and Israeli cinema. At the Jerusalem Film Festival, where we celebrate the best of Israeli and international cinema, there is no one more suited than Gal to receive this honor.”
American film producer Lawrence Bender will be honored with an award at the opening ceremonies of the festival. Bender is a prominent presence in Hollywood, with a prolific career that spans three decades, with 37 Oscar nominations and 9 awards for the films he has produced. His long-term collaboration with Quentin Tarantino began with Reservoir Dogs (1992), and includes Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill Volume 1 & 2, and Inglourious Basterds. His influential productions include Good Will Hunting (1997) directed by Gus Van Sant, which was nominated for Best Picture, as well as the hard-hitting documentary An Inconvenient Truth (2006) which won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
Lawrence Bender commented: “Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to work with many great filmmakers. From early on, I’ve been privileged to work with people from all walks of life, on movies with a range of issues, in countries all over the world and in America with strong diversity; African American, Latino, Asian, women, and LGBTQ. Now, after October 7, 2023, I saw our community stood alone and I decided it was time to focus more on my people. So it is particularly meaningful receiving this award and especially alongside such a wonderful actress, Gal Gadot.”
The festival team commented: “Lawrence Bender’s contribution to the international film landscape is one of the most important and significant of our time, in addition to his extensive work on global humanitarian initiatives. Bender is also an enthusiastic supporter of the Israeli film and television industry, and we are very excited to have him come to the Jerusalem Film Festival to receive an award.”
Jerusalem Film Festival Executive Director Roni Mahadav-Levin and Artistic Director Or Sigoli released a statement: “The 42nd edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival comes at a challenging and unusual time for the State of Israel and for Israeli cinema. While we are still in the midst of endless war, the festival is a cultural lighthouse that gives light in the darkness and reminds us of the power of art to heal, to build bridges between Israel and the world, to give rise to hope for a different reality through the hundreds of different stories presented on the cinema screens. Israeli cinema is going through a complex and unsettling time, but this is bringing out the best from Israeli filmmakers. In this edition we will present works that contend with the complex Israeli reality, alongside the highest quality of international cinema. We are proud to grant over a million shekel in awards for filmmakers this year, as a sign of support and encouragement for Israeli creativity in this challenging time. The Jerusalem Film Festival has always been a meeting place between cultures and people, and we will continue this tradition this year as well. We invite the public, alongside film industry members from Israel and the world, to join us for a celebration of film in Jerusalem – a city where the encounter between past and future, between local and universal, and between the different cultures within the city, takes on a unique significance. We call for the return of all hostages and an end to the war and violence in our region now.”
The 42nd edition of the Jerusalem Film Festival will take place from July 17 – 27, 2025. The full program and ticket information will be available on the festival website.
The festival’s rich artistic program will feature international premieres, award-winning films from international festivals, as well as a first look at new Israeli films. Film competitions at the festival include the Haggiag Award for Best Israeli Feature, the Diamond Competition for Israeli documentary film, as well as awards for the Best International Film and the First Feature Competition. The festival is headed by the Jerusalem Cinematheque CEO and Jerusalem Film Festival Executive Director Roni Mahadav-Levin and Artistic Director Or Sigoli, and is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Van Leer Foundation, the Jerusalem Foundation, and the Jerusalem Municipality.
