| Festival Director Carole Zabar Takes on Another Israel |
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| Written by Brad Balfour | |
 Once an attorney, Carole Zabar has been an active supporter of Israeli documentary filmmaking over the last decade and has recently founded the Other Israel Film Festival--which started this last weekend.As part of her support for Israeli cultural, social and political causes, Zabar serves as board member of The JCC in Manhattan, New Israel Fund, and the American Friends of Meretz. But right now her concern is this festival which put a spotlight onto another aspect of Israeli filmmaking, from the Arab Israeli community. Q: What's the toughest part of organzing this festival--finding the films or the funding? Carole Zabar: Since I funded the festival myself, money was never on issue. I have the world's best staff and they were great organizers. Because I was not interested in films that were overtly political and dealt only with arabs within the green line- I did not have a big selection of films. We worked very hard and came up with a very good lineup. Q: How hard is it to get the Jewish community involved with the festival? CZ: I never would have taken on this project were it not for my friend Joy Levitt who is the executive director of the JCC in Manhattan who agreed to be my partner from day one. I screened two films and talked at the SAJ, which is my synogogue, there was a lot of interest. My husband owns Zabar's and I sat at a table loaded with brochures with a poster behind me and talked to many many people Q: What has been the reaction of the Jewish media to the fest--support, contention? CZ: "The Jewish Week" gave us a great story, "The Forward," didn't seem to get the point of the festival and claimed it took place last month. I was interview on WBAI this morning which resulted from sitting in front of Zabar's Q: How did you get involved with this in the first place? CZ: I am a graduate of the Hebrew Uinversity of Jerusalem. I am a fluent Hebrew speaker and have never left the Israeli cultural scene. I don't know anyone who has seen more Israeli movies than I. I have been involved In organizations that deal with Arab and Jewish citizens for years- I love Israel and have watched Arab/Jewish relations within the state deteriorate- my dream is that my festival will put a human face on minority whose home is in Jewish state.I have been very influenced by the efforts of the brilliant Palestinian Israeli actor Mohammad Bakri who I have heard speak about the healing powers of art. He shares my dream. Q: Do you hope by presenting these films that you can encourage a new understanding of Israel and its problems--how? CZ: The festival is not so much about Israel and its problems as about the life of Israel's Arab population and how they are dealing with the problems and the joys of their daily lives. But I am pinning my hopes on the actors and directors who will talk and answer questions. The audience will be amazed at alike we are. |
