News & Updates: The Los Angeles Israel Film Festival opens with a gala at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills

https://www.hebrewnews.com/article/72091

The Los Angeles Israel Film Festival opens with a gala at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills

An exciting, sold-out and colorful evening in a hall full of filmmakers, creators and leaders in the Jewish and Israeli communities opened ten days of blue and white films

02.13.2026, Elad Masuri

The Los Angeles Israel Film Festival, one of the most prominent cinematic and cultural events of the Israeli and Jewish community in the United States, kicked off last Wednesday with a festive and respectful gala held at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills. This is the 37th edition of the festival, which opened in a full hall with an audience of filmmakers, creators, cultural figures, community leaders, and guests from all over Los Angeles.

The opening night was led by the festival’s founder and director, Meir Fenigstein, who also celebrated his 75th birthday and received special congratulations and recognition. He stood on the stage with excitement and said, among other things: We did it again every year, it’s a challenge again to lift this huge production. As you know, Meir has been producing the film festival for the past 45 years. The stage and greeted the audience with the opening of the festival’s events, which will continue until February 19. In his remarks, Fenigstein emphasized the importance of Israeli cinema as a cultural, social, and diplomatic tool, which tells the complex, human, and multi-layered story of Israeli society to a wide international audience, and concluded, “I love you with all my heart“

From right to left: Consul General Israel Bachar, Elon Gold, Lawrence Bender, Tiffany Hadar and Meir Fenigstein (c) Michelle Mivzari

The evening was hosted by comedian Elon Gold, who entertained the audience with imitations of Donald Trump, talked about the state of cinema in the world, anti-Semitism against Jews in L.A., and most of all, did a lot of respect for our community. The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the honorary awards. American actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish has presented film and television producer Lawrence Bender with the 2026 Israel Film Festival’s Vision Award. Bender, one of the most prominent names in Hollywood, is behind iconic films such as Pulp Fiction, Irreverent Bastards and The Will Hunting Story. Haddish praised his many years of work and significant contribution to the world of cinema, noting his commitment to bold and deeply human stories. Another award was given to award-winning Israeli director Eran Riklis, one of the leading voices in contemporary Israeli cinema, who won the festival’s Cinematic Achievement Award. Riklis, the creator of films such as The Syrian Bride, Lemon Tree and Reading Lolita in Tehran, received the award from producer Ram Bergman. The acknowledgments emphasized Riklis’ unique position as a director who succeeds in bridging cultures, languages, and political and social narratives through sensitive and human cinema.

Also speaking during the evening were Israel Bachar, Israel’s Consul General for the Southwest Coast of the United States, and Sharona Nazarian, Mayor of Beverly Hills, who said, among other things, that Beverly Hills has always been and will always continue to speak out against hatred and intimate activity in L.A. I have a personal mission to bring people together and connect them, and the best way to do that is through storytelling, yes, just like the movies. Thank you to the Film Festival and Meir for his huge contribution.” Nazrin and Bachar emphasized the contribution of Israeli cinema to raising cultural awareness and strengthening the dialogue between Israel and the world. The mayor even presented Meir Fenigstein and the festival with an official letter of appreciation from the Beverly Hills City Council, in recognition of the festival’s long-standing contribution to the city’s cultural life.

The opening film of the festival was A Letter to David, directed by Tom Shoval, which won the Ophir Award for Best Documentary this year. It was the film’s Los Angeles premiere, and it was screened under the auspices of the Friends of NATAL in the United States. The film deals with trauma, personal and collective memory, and touches the hearts of the audience. Elena Zeitchik, a humanitarian activist and representative of the Cuneo family, spoke about the ongoing struggle with national trauma in Israel and the power of cinema and art to serve as a space of healing and connection. During the evening, 19 Israeli artists and actors who came especially to the festival were invited to the stage, and received warm applause. The evening was moderated by comedian Elon Gold, who combined humor with sensitivity and led the ceremony in a warm and dignified atmosphere.

Meir Fenigstein and Lawrence Bender

The Los Angeles Israel Film Festival was founded in 1982 and has since become one of the oldest and most influential festivals outside of Israel dedicated to Israeli cinema. For more than four decades, the festival has served as a central platform for Israeli filmmakers, for the exposure of award-winning films, and for direct encounters between creators and American audiences. The uniqueness of the festival lies in its ability to reflect the diversity, complexity and innovation of Israeli society through feature film, documentary and comedy. During the festival, the films will be screened at the Regal North Hollywood Cinemas and the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills, along with Q&A sessions with filmmakers and industry figures. The festival is produced by the IsraFest Foundation, a non-profit organization that works to promote Israeli culture and cinema in the United States.

Among this year’s sponsors are leading organizations such as Mattel, the Adelson Family Foundation, Arkia, Variety Magazine, the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles, the Israel-America Council, and the Steve Tisch Family Foundation – all of which share a vision of strengthening the cultural connection between Israel and the international audience. The Israeli Film Festival continues to establish its status as an important cultural bridge, and as a platform that tells the story of Israel through cinema – with all its layers, pains and hopes.