FILMS

Moved by her own experience leading film workshops, director Orit Fouks Rotem offers up a heartfelt movie that demonstrates the power of art to create unexpected friendships. Nine diverse women (Jewish, Arab, secular, and devout) sign up for an introductory filmmaking course and soon find themselves sharing their personal videos with one another, exposing themselves in previously unimaginable ways. In the process, they discover that despite different circumstances, they all have shared experiences. Cinema Sabaya, Israel’s official entry to the Academy Awards for Best International Feature, is a wonderful reflection of a group of women bridging cultural divides and forming a special bond and sisterhood through the transformational power of film.   

Official Selection – Palm Springs International Film Festival, Atlanta Jewish Film Festival  

Winner – Israeli Academy Award (Ophir) – Best Film, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress  

“The film is full of life, love, humor and authenticity without being didactic. At the same time, it cleverly questions the ethics and responsibility of filmmaking.” – Alissa Simon, Variety  

“A quietly affecting little film about unexpected connections and unseen sorrows, shimmers with a bright optimism about how people might overlook one another’s differences if only they took a little time to learn about each other.” – Kyle Smith, The Wall Street Journal  

Join us for Film Schmooze* led by Dr. Hilla Nehushtan, University of Pittsburgh, after the screening!    

In person screening + Film Schmooze
Saturday, April 29, at 2pm | CMU – McConomy Auditorium  

*Film Schmooze is a casual post-film discussion sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh – Jewish Studies program.

Watch the trailer: