Nadav Lapid's film 'YES' will be featured at the Bucharest International Film Festival in the upcoming month.
Nadav Lapid, a renowned Israeli filmmaker and one of the most provocative voices in contemporary cinema, will have a retrospective at the 21st edition of the Bucharest International Film Festival (BIFF), scheduled for September 19-28.
The retrospective will showcase some of Lapid's most significant works, including his acclaimed films Ahed's Knee and Synonyms.
Synonyms, which won the Golden Bear at the 2019 Berlinale, explores themes of identity and exile through the story of a young Israeli in Paris. On the other hand, Ahed's Knee, winner of the Cannes Jury Prize, is a fiery critique of Israeli political power and national identity.
Lapid's earlier notable dramas, such as Policeman and The Kindergarten Teacher, also delve deeply into social and political issues in Israel.
His latest feature, Yes (Ken!), currently in pre-production or recently premiered, is a provocative and decadent film set in Israel after the October 7th events of 2023. It follows a jazz musician caught between domestic life and a surreal commission to write a new national anthem, critiquing Israeli nationalism, propaganda, and societal decay in a brutally satirical and unsettling style.
The screening of Yes will take place during the BIFF, and Lapid and cinematographer Shai Goldman will attend the premiere. They will also host a masterclass on cinematic expression during the festival. This masterclass will be open to both industry professionals and the general public with an interest in auteur cinema.
Each screening in the retrospective will be followed by Q&A sessions with Lapid and Goldman. The BIFF will also present a curated selection of international films in national premiere.
Lapid was honoured by the French government with the title Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres for his significant contribution to cinema and intercultural dialogue. YES was also selected in the Official Competition of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.
The BIFF is the only feature film competition organized in Bucharest, making it a significant platform for international films. The festival is organised across five sections: feature film competition, short film competition, panorama, Romanian authors, and history & cinema.
This retrospective promises to be an exciting opportunity for fans of Lapid's work and those new to his cinema to engage with his thought-provoking and innovative films.
The retrospective at the Bucharest International Film Festival (BIFF) will offer a chance to view and discuss some of Nadav Lapid's most memorable movies-and-tv works, such as the acclaimed films Synonyms and Ahed's Knee, both falling under the realm of entertainment. The screening of Lapid's latest feature, Yes, which premiered recently, will also be an entertaining addition to the BIFF, showcasing his provocative and decadent style that explores nationalism, propaganda, and societal decay.
