The Embassy of Israel in the Philippines kicked off its 18th Israeli Film Festival with the recent gala screening at BHS Cinemas in Central Square, Bonifacio Global City.
Now on its 18th year, the Israeli Film Festival in the Philippines is a four-day celebration of award-winning films exploring identity, motherhood, the freedom to choose, and the universal impact of women’s stories.
The gala screening featured “Golda,” a film that explores the life and legacy of Golda Meir, Israel’s first and only female prime minister and founder of MASHAV, Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation.
Golda offers a compelling look at Meir’s leadership during one of the most critical moments in Israel’s modern history — the 1973 Yom Kippur War — highlighting how she faced an existential threat with resilience and resolve.
In his opening remarks, Ambassador Ilan Fluss said this year’s festival theme, “Women at the Center,” emphasizes the importance of women and their role in shaping history, culture, and society.
He highlighted the value of sharing narratives that place women at the center of storytelling, and reaffirmed the Embassy’s commitment to fostering meaningful connections through culture and the arts.
The festival is seen to reflect the Embassy’s broader effort to introduce Filipino audiences to a vibrant, creative, and diverse side of Israel — one that goes beyond headlines, and speaks through the language of cinema and culture.
