Israeli Film Festival in Wollongong
The 11th Wollongong Israeli Film Festival has been held at the University of Wollongong.
Sara Howson, President of AUJS-Wollongong, Will Berry, Helen Cass, Elad Haas and Dr. Yoke Berry
The festival, organised by the Kibbutz Ex Volunteer Association (KEVA), attracted about 100 people and was officially opened by Professor Judy Raper, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research) of the University of Wollongong. A message from the Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Yuval Rotem was read out to the audience in which he said “..it is heartening that an extension of this (kibbutz volunteer) spirit exists here in the “Kfar Wollongong” community”.
This year the choice of films included “Valley of Strength” directed by Dan Wolman and based on the novel Gei Oni by Shulamit Lapid. It told a story set at the end of the 19th century about the life of a woman who survived a progrom in Russia and becomes a pioneer in the settlement of Rosh Pinna. Film goers commented about the poetic nature of the film and found the realistic portrayal of hardship well documented.
After a supper of homemade hummus and other Israeli delicacies, the documentary “The Worst Company in the World”, directed by Regev Contes about his father and two co-workers was screened.
KEVA was launched in 2000 by a group of local ex kibbutz volunteers with the idea of building stronger and personal relations between Australia and Israel with a cultural focus.
KEVA is based on friendship, which they believe is the underlying force of goodwill between societies. Today KEVA is the home of the Jewish/Israeli community in Wollongong.
