Black Jews – Beta Israel

Fig Tree

In FIG TREE by Aalam-Warqe Davidian, the 14-year-old Mina experiences the best and worst of life at the very same time: the civil war is raging in Ethiopia, but Mina finds love in the form of Eli, a Christian. Then her Jewish family decides to emigrate to Israel. The short film OASIS is screening beforehand. On her 34th birthday, the lonely Ethiopian Ronit spends the night with a stranger, a younger, damaged truck driver who, like her, bears the burden of loneliness.

The panel discussion that follows is entitled BLACK JEWS – FILMMAKING IN A COMPLEX MULTICULTURAL SOCIETY and explores the potential of Ethiopian-Jewish cinema to overcome entrenched positions, deal with the complexity and multi-faceted nature of Israeli society from inside and outside in critical fashion and combat anti-Semitic cliches at the same time. Alongside the two directors Aalam-Warqe Davidian and Bazi Gete, Israeli producer Naomi Levari is also participating. Moderation: Igal Avidan.

Oasis Bazi Gete Israel 2024 DCP OmeU 18 min.