The 43rd Jerusalem Film Festival will open on July 9th with a festive screening of Moshe Rosenthal’s new film, Tell Me Everything, at the Sultan’s Pool, in the presence of the film’s creators and cast. Titled “Atzmaut” (Independence) in Hebrew, the film is produced by Green Productions and United King and held its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival. The Jerusalem Film Festival will take place from July 9 – 19, 2026.
Roni Mahadav-Levin, Executive Director of the Jerusalelm Cinematheque, and Festival Artistic Director Orr Sigoli released a statement: “We are excited to open the 43rd edition of the Jerusalem International Film Festival with Tell Me Everything, the new and much anticipated film by Moshe Rosenthal that will be screened in its Israeli premiere at the Sultan’s Pool at the festive opening ceremonies. The choice of an original and captivating Israeli film as the festival’s opening film emphasizes the festival’s commitment to place local cinema at the forefront, alongside the rich international program and the Israeli competitions, whose details will soon be forthcoming. We invite the audience to a unique cinematic celebration that brings the best of Israeli and international cinema to Jerusalem.”
Moshe Rosenthal (Karaoke) stated: “It is a great honor to open the festival with Tell Me Everthing and bring the film to Israeli audiences for the first time on this impressive platform. At a time when Israeli cinema contends with challenges on the international arena, the support and platform that the Jerusalem Film Festival provides is more meaningful than ever. Tell Me Everything is a film that takes the small, intimate, and local, and translates it into a cinematic experience intended for the largest screen. I am moved to have the opportunity to celebrate the film and Israeli cinema with the audience and feel the passion and excitement in the air.”
Producer Alona Refua (Green Productions) stated: “We celebrate the choice of our film, Tell Me Everything, as the festival’s opening film. This choice is not an obvious one, and we view it as a great honor and an expression of belief in local filmmaking. Tell Me Everything is a film that regards reality from a human, compassionate, and emotional perspective, and celebrates the power of cinema to connect people and create a shared experience. Following its successful journey at the Sundance Film Festival, where it was greeted by the audience with warmth and admiration, the opportunity to screen the film in Israel before an audience of thousands is especially moving for us, and we are looking forward to experience this encounter together with the audience.”
Tell Me Everything is set in 1987, when just before his Bar Mitzvah, Boaz (Yair Mazor) uncovers a devastating secret about his adored father, Meir (Assi Cohen). The close connection between the two is ruptured by Boaz’s attempts to push his father out of the family and become ‘the man of the house’ for his mother and two sisters. Nine years later, Boaz embarks on a search for his estranged father, and must contend with his memories and the choices that have haunted him since then. A Green Productions and United King Films production, Tell Me Everything will be distributed in Israel by United King Films.
The 43rd Jerusalem Film Festival will take place from July 9 – 19, 2026. Tickets for the opening ceremony and additional information are available on the festival website.
