Close
Monthly Screenings

Cinema Is a Dream

Following the exhibition "Lucid Dreams", curated by Dr. Adina Kamien, and marking 50 years of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and 60 years of the Israel Museum, a cinematic program inspired by the exhibition will be presented at the Cinematheque.

The exhibition itself unfolds a rich and complex realm of consciousness, marking one hundred years of Surrealism, and offers a renewed reading of dreams, memory, and creativity through approximately 180 artworks from diverse worlds. It opens a gateway to a world where consciousness is freed from the constraints of time and logic, allowing the viewer to dwell in the twilight zone between wakefulness and dreaming.

Inspired by these realms, this cinematic tribute was created, featuring about 20 selected films. These are cinematic works that explore the boundaries of the tangible world, moving between dream and fantasy, between consciousness and psychoanalysis, and between visual surrealism and poetic cinematic expression. From the classics of Buñuel, Fellini, and Bergman, through groundbreaking animated films and wild underground creations, to contemporary films that delve into the human psyche, memory, and dreams - the films in this program illuminate the gaps between inner and outer worlds, between the visible and the hidden, and dismantle familiar boundaries of time, narrative, and character.

The opening event will include an introductory lecture by the exhibition's curator, Dr. Adina Kamien. In addition,  artists whose works are featured in the exhibition will introduce films of their choice. These encounters will offer unique insights into the intersections of cinema, art, and consciousness.

We invite you to join a journey between reality and imagination, between awareness and dreams — to move through near and distant realms and surrender to the enchanting power of cinema.

 

Opening Event

Introduction (in Heb.): Dr. Adina Kamien, curator of Lucid Dreams exhibtion at the Israel Museum

The Phantom of Liberty

Dir.: Luis Buñuel
| 104 minutes

In The Phantom of Liberty, surreal, grotesque episodes challenge bourgeois norms, unsettle viewers, and resist simple interpretation. Reality, like his cinema, defies logic and control.

Dreams

Dir.: Akira Kurosawa
| 117 minutes

Exquisitely crafted, Kurasawa's 82nd film presents a series of eight vignettes dealing primarily with the themes of living in harmony with nature and the constant struggle against death, both of the individual and the planet. 

Wild Strawberries

Dir.: Ingmar Bergman
| 88 minutes

An aging professor travels to receive an honorary degree for his life’s work. The journey presents encounters with family members, hitchhikers, and disturbing dreams. 

The Phantom of Liberty

Dir.: Luis Buñuel
| 104 minutes

In The Phantom of Liberty, surreal, grotesque episodes challenge bourgeois norms, unsettle viewers, and resist simple interpretation. Reality, like his cinema, defies logic and control.

Kafka: Eps. 1-3

Kafka

Created by: David Schalko
| 135 minutes

The story of Franz Kafka's life from different perspectives. Presenting his difficult relationship with his father, his deep friendship with Max Brod, and his various love affairs. A unique glimpse into the mind of a genius who challenges those around him to see the world in ways they never have before.

Spirited Away

Dir.: Hayao Miyazaki
| 125 minutes

On the way to their new home, Chihiro is swept away into an adventure after her parents are turned into pigs. From here on in our young heroine will encounter a series of strange creatures. 

1 screaning
Sunday 31.08.25
31.08.25
21:00
Cinematheque 1
Cinematheque 1
2025-08-31 21:00:00 2025-09-01 00:00:00 Asia/Jerusalem Spirited Away Cinematheque Jerusalem Cinematheque
Spirited Away

The Mirror

Dir.: Andrei Tarkovsky
| 106 minutes

In his most complex and personal work, Andrei Tarkovsky conveys the history of the Soviet Union. Melding the personal with the national and the universal, the film is constructed from personal episodes from the history of Russia. The result is a masterpiece with rare poetic power. 

Kafka: Eps. 4-6

Kafka

Created by: David Schalko
| 135 minutes

The story of Franz Kafka's life from different perspectives. Presenting his difficult relationship with his father, his deep friendship with Max Brod, and his various love affairs. A unique glimpse into the mind of a genius who challenges those around him to see the world in ways they never have before.

The Science of Sleep

Dir.: Michel Gondry
| 105 minutes

Stephane makes a living at a calendar-decorating firm. When a young French woman moves in across the hall, the two embark on a journey that blurs the lines between reality and imagination. The virtuoso result manages to delight the senses.

Juliet of the Spirits

Dir.: Federico Fellini
| 148 minutes

A woman's quest for self-discovery is at the core of this film. Many see this film as the female version of 8 1/2 - that is, a journey into the imaginations and fantasies of a protagonist who experiences a mid-life crisis. This is carnival-like cinema, fun and sensual, simply worth indulging in. 

Hour of the Wolf

Dir.: Ingmar Bergman
| 89 minutes

Max Von Sydow is a painter in the process of losing his grip on reality while staying on a deserted beach with his wife (Liv Ullmann). Visually this film is one of the most impressive of Bergman’s work.

For Kids

Dreambuilders

Dir.: Kim Hagen Jensen
| 81 minutes

Mia lives with her dad and dislikes his new fiancée’s daughter, Jenny. In a magical dream world, Mia learns to control Jenny’s dreams, but her interference causes harm. To fix it, she must journey through dreams to save Jenny, her family, and herself.

Exquisite Corpses and Dirty Beauty

Roee Rosen presents Dalí’s key ideas - critical paranoia and the surrealist object - through his film The Dust Channel. He links it to Buñuel, Tretyakov’s object biographies, and the contrast between radical and pop Dalí. (In Heb.)

The Dust Channel | Daaaaaali!

100 minutes

The Dust Channel - The Dust Channel is a cultural chimera: a Russian-language operetta about a British Dyson vacuum, set in Israeli domestic life | Daaaaaali! - Full of reflections and clever twists, Quentin Dupieux delivers a brilliant homage to one of the great masters of the 20th century. A journalist’s attempt to film him unravels as the eccentric artist spirals into psychedelic chaos and existential meltdown.

Last Year at Marienbad

Dir.: Alain Resnais
| 94 minutes

Alain Robbe-Grillet’s script and Alain Resnais’ direction create a film exploring human memory through three characters—X, A, and M. They challenge viewers to find the story’s logic and truth beyond individuality, blending physical reality with a spiritual dimension.

1 screaning
Friday 29.08.25
29.08.25
18:00
Cinematheque 1
Cinematheque 1
2025-08-29 18:00:00 2025-08-29 21:00:00 Asia/Jerusalem Last Year at Marienbad Cinematheque Jerusalem Cinematheque
Last Year at Marienbad

Inception

Dir.: Christopher Nolan
| 148 minutes

Cobb, together with his team, has the special ability to enter the human mind, through dream invasion, and extract sensitive information. A new mission will push him and the team to the edge of their abilities.

1 screaning
Saturday 30.08.25
30.08.25
18:00
Cinematheque 1
Cinematheque 1
2025-08-30 18:00:00 2025-08-30 21:00:00 Asia/Jerusalem Inception Cinematheque Jerusalem Cinematheque
Inception

Spellbound

Dir.: Alfred Hitchcock
| 111 minutes

A psychiatrist falls for an amnesiac who fears he’s a murderer. Together, they unravel the truth using psychoanalysis. This psychological thriller masterfully blends suspense, romance, and surrealism, highlighted by a dream sequence designed by Salvador Dalí.

1 screaning
Saturday 30.08.25
30.08.25
15:30
Cinematheque 1
Cinematheque 1
2025-08-30 15:30:00 2025-08-30 18:30:00 Asia/Jerusalem Spellbound Cinematheque Jerusalem Cinematheque
Spellbound

Paprika

Dir.: Satoshi Kon
| 91 minutes

A mind-bending sci-fi anime about a dream-penetrating device stolen for dark purposes. A red-haired mystery woman and a bold cop chase through surreal dreamscapes. The film fuses identity shifts, wild imagination, and sharp critique into a dazzling cinematic experience.

Thursday 28.08.25 28.08.25
20:00
20:00
Cinematheque 2
Cinematheque 2
2025-08-28 20:00:00 2025-08-28 23:00:00 Asia/Jerusalem Dreams and Nightmares: From the Magic Lantern to AI <p>Introduction (in Heb.): Sharon Balaban, Video Artist, Senior Lecturer at the Screen Based Arts Department, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem</p> Cinematheque Jerusalem Cinematheque

Dreams and Nightmares: From the Magic Lantern to AI

Introduction (in Heb.): Sharon Balaban, Video Artist, Senior Lecturer at the Screen Based Arts Department, Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem

The Forbidden Room

Dir.: Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson
| 128 minutes

Guy Maddin's film is an ode to the long-lost films of the silent era, an erotic and kaleidoscopic symphony that takes us sky high, down to the depths and around the world, creating a unique, multilayered viewing experience.

Back on Screen

Fantasia

| 125 minutes

Fantasia, Disney’s third animated feature, blends eight classical music pieces with stunning animation. Lacking a traditional plot, it captivates through imagination, humor, and visual beauty. Since its 1940 debut, it remains a landmark in cinematic artistry - a timeless sensory experience worth revisiting.

1 screaning
Saturday 30.08.25
30.08.25
15:30
Cinematheque 2
Cinematheque 2
2025-08-30 15:30:00 2025-08-30 18:30:00 Asia/Jerusalem Fantasia Cinematheque Jerusalem Cinematheque
Fantasia
Back on Screen

The Wizard of Oz

Dir.: Victor Fleming
| 102 minutes

Dorothy Gale dreams of a land “somewhere over the rainbow” and, after a tornado rages through her hometown, her dream comes true. Joined by her dog and a band of unlikely friends, Dorothy sets out to find the enigmatic Wizard of Oz. One of the greatest and most beloved films produced in classic Hollywood.

1 screaning
Saturday 30.08.25
30.08.25
16:00
Cinematheque 3
Cinematheque 3
2025-08-30 16:00:00 2025-08-30 19:00:00 Asia/Jerusalem The Wizard of Oz Cinematheque Jerusalem Cinematheque
The Wizard of Oz