Jerusalem Is Proud to Present

In the summer of 2006, Jerusalem was host, for the first time, to the World Pride events, an annual celebration of LGBT freedom and culture, planned to culminate in a traditional gay pride parade. Nitzan Gilady’s award-winning documentary (Festival Dei Popoli 2007 Audience Award and “Movies That Matter” Human Rights Award, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam 2007) weaves the passions of gay rights activists and community members (including colorfully dressed, earnest young gay and lesbian folks; seasoned, sequined drag queens; a gay member of the Jerusalem city council; and tourists looking for a hot date) into a compelling documentary with a strong narrative arc and an eye and ear for wonderful interviews. It is hard to imagine that homophobia could create multicultural bonds and quasi-“Kumbaya” moments between ultra-Orthodox rabbis, religious Christians and religious Muslims, but this is what happens when the gay community, with members from all three religions, offers itself as the site for World Pride. With more fervor than a Yankees–Red Sox playoff, Israelis (and visitors) wishing to celebrate their sexuality are pitted against Israelis (and visitors) who see homosexuality as an affront to their religion. Steadfast and admirable in the face of heated and violent anti-gay sentiments, the activists of the Open House—Jerusalem’s LGBT community center—deal with threats that escalate beyond just their right to march. Regardless of your sexual identity or religion, check out this outstanding film and feel the love—mixed with a few barbs, the bitter with the sweet.

From 2008 Festival: Director, Israel Born in Beer - Sheva, Israel 1970, Nitzan Gilady has received a grant for the art of cinema 2004 initiated by the Ministry of education, culture and sport given to outstanding Israeli filmmakers and film professionals. Nitzan Gilady is a graduate of the high art school Thelma Yelin (Israel) and the Academy of arts Circle in the Square (New York). He is self-taught director/producer, who earned his experience by participating as an actor in some films and his endless love for Cinema. Documentary film & TV – Social/Political His last film titled In Satmar Custody was nominated for best Israeli documentary. The film exposes the complex relationship between the Hasidic Satmar community and the Yemenite Jews who still live in Yemen. (The film was broadcast on VRT-Belgium, DR-Denmark, Canal Plus-Poland, Doc Channel- Canada, South Africa, Planet –France & Germany, SBS, New- Zealand and Sundance Channel –USA.) The Last Enemy, his previous documentary film, follows nine Palestinian, Israeli and Jordanian actors who worked for the first time on a play that has been written especially for them by an American playwright. The film was shot during the two months rehearsal process in England, the United States, Jordan, Israel, and the Palestinian Authority (The film was purchased by Israeli National TV-Channel 1, Planet, YEL-Finland and ZDF-ARTE). In 1998 he made his first documentary film Im En Ani li Mili that was made for TV. The film tracks the career of the Israeli actress Mili Avital, in the U.S and was shot in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Israel (Broadcast in channel 2, Israel). His TV work includes: Dark Southern Deal a mini series based on the book with the same title written by Daniel Ben Simon (nominated for best Israeli TV sires) and Wings a chapter in a the series Volunteers (both broadcast on Channel 2, the commercial channel in Israel) Fiction Home Made Fiction script in development. The project received special mention at TV Europe at the Haifa Intenational Film Festival, and was selected as a nominee for a grant at the Montpelier International film festival and received a writing grant in France at Le Moulin D'Ande Yona Production is an independent production house established by Nitzan Gilady in 1998 and produced his previous films. Awards for In Satmar Custody: Planet Prix - At Marseille Documentary Film Festival / Nominated for best documentary Israeli Academy (equivalent to the American Oscar) Awards for The Last Enemy: Audience award at Leipzig International Documentary film festival / "Special award for an outstanding film focusing on the peace process" given by the American Embassy at Docaviv-The TA Int' Documentary Film festival / Third Place "Certificate for Creative Excellence" at US Intentional Film And Video Festival (Chicago, Illinois) in the category of documentary / "Best film on human relation" at Parnu International Documentary and Anthropology Film Festival. / "Silver Hugo" at Intercom The International Communication Film &Video Competition / "Grand Jury Award" at The Brussels International Independent Films Festival.