By Maria Esteves – January 25, 2017

The 26th New York Jewish Film Festival 2017 (NYJFF17) World Premiere of SHALOM RABIN documentary, by Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai commenced Sunday, January 22nd at the Walter Reade Theater. Q&A session immediately followed with director Gitai, moderated by Richard Peña, director emeritus, New York Film Festival, professor of Film Studies, Columbia University.

Questions posed to director Gitai by Peña included: What was the relationship between you and your group of filmmakers and what must have been a massive press core especially at that time, were you part of the press pool or were you given special access? Did you feel the need to immediately go on to another movie? I found the central section where you had a lot of the talking head interview with both Israelis and Palestinians really compelling. Tell us more about that whole sequence, how you shot it and when you shot it?

NYJFF 2017 Premiere of SHALOM RABIN: Festival
moderator Richard Pena, director emeritus, New York
Film Festival, professor of Film Studies, Columbia University,
right, and Israeli director Amos Agitai.

NYJFF 2017 Premiere of SHALOM RABIN Q&A Session: Festival moderator
Richard Pena, director emeritus, New York Film Festival, professor of Film Studies,
Columbia University, right, and Israeli director Amos Agitai.