The International Film Festival in the Arava will be held this year from November 3 to 13 in Tzukim.
The festival, which celebrates a decade of existence, brings together the best of the summer and autumn film festivals and presents them in the heart of the desert, under the open sky.
The festival will open with the screening of the film "Official Competition", starring Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas.
It is a witty satire, directed by Gaston Dupart and Mariano Cohen, that offers an ironic and sharp look at the film industry and the world of glamor.
Other films to be screened this year are "Sunset" starring Tim Roth and Charlotte Ginsburg and directed by Michel Franco (who will also be hosting the festival); "Arthur Rambo" by French director Laurent Canta ("Between the Walls") about a young and acclaimed writer of North African descent who has been harassed in the past; "Everything Passed Alone" by veteran François Ozon who deals with an art collector who seeks to end his life after having a stroke; "The Leadership of Mr. Yusuka" by the excellent Japanese director Husuka Amaguchi, which deals with the extraordinary relationship between a widowed director and his leadership; "Cell No. 6" by Finnish director Yoho Koosmannan which was a hit at the Cannes Film Festival; "Moriah" by famed Thai director Apichetpong Virastak starring Tilda Swinton; And "Aries," an artistic horror thriller by Valdimar Johansson, starring Nomi Rapas.
Another film that will be premiered in the Arava is "Forward Forward" by director Mike Mills ("Beginners," "Women of the 20th Century"), in which Joaquin Phoenix ("Joker") plays a radio broadcaster who is asked to keep his young nephew.
One of the highlights of this year's festival will undoubtedly be a celebratory screening of the exemplary TV series "Decalogue" by the late Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowski, which presents a dramatic and unique interpretation of the Ten Commandments from today's perspective.
Alongside the episodes of the series, the festival will also host Kieslowski's writing partner, Krzysztof Piasewicz (who also co-wrote "The Double Life of Veronica" and the "Three Colors" trilogy);
The director of the company that produced the series, Irena Shalkowska;
And stills photographer Piotr Jaxa, who will present an exhibition consisting of photos he took on the sets of some of Kieslowski's great films.