Elad Samorzik, the artistic director of the Jerusalem Film Festival since the end of 2013, has decided to end his position.
He will be replaced by the film critic and artistic director of Cinematheque Holon Or Sigoli, who was chosen by the CEO of the Cinematheque in the capital and the executive committee of the festival after a search process that lasted about three months.
During his tenure, Smurzyk initiated a variety of new film competitions, fostered industry events at the festival, expanded international collaborations, and increased the amount of films screened there.
Since he assumed his position, the number of spectators at the festival has increased to about 70 thousand people every year and the total number of prizes distributed there has reached a record of one million shekels.
In the years that he worked in his position, some particularly big names from the world of international cinema came to the festival, including Oscar winners Helen Mirren, Oliver Stone and Quentin Tarantino, the respected directors Park Chan-wook, the Darden brothers and Ruben Östlund, and more.
Helen Mirren at the Jerusalem Film Festival, last year: "I am amazed at the way Israel is changing" // Photo: Yoni Rickner
Smorzik, who will accompany the festival in the coming months and in the 2024 edition as outgoing artistic director, said: "After a decade at the festival, I decided to end my role and free myself for new challenges. It was a huge privilege to artistically lead the Jerusalem Festival for so many years and to work alongside people who have become a significant part of my life. I have known Or Sigoli for two decades. He is an avid cinephile, and I am confident that the festival will derive great value from his deep devotion to the art of cinema."
Tarantino at the opening event of the festival, in 2021, photo: Noam Rivkin Fenton
Sigoli said: "The role of artistic director of the Jerusalem Film Festival is nothing less than a dream come true. Since my days as a student at the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, the festival and the city have become my great love. That is why I am so proud and excited to be part of this important and wonderful institution, which reveals every year Tens of thousands of viewers watch the best of the world's cinematic productions and the interesting and important creators of both Israeli and international production. I am a great believer in the place of cinema in the cultural landscape."
The 41st edition of the festival, one of the leading and most important in the field of cinema in Israel, is expected to take place on July 18-28.
Last year, the film "Daniel Auerbach" by David Wolf picked up the best film award at the festival.
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