The 15th Arava International Film Festival is set to take place from November 4 to 14 near the Nahal Ashush Nature Reserve close to Tzukim in southern Israel. The event will showcase a diverse program featuring Israeli premieres, international films, classic cinema, and spotlight works connected to filmmaking in the Negev region. This year, the festival will expand its offerings with two outdoor screens, allowing for a broader array of nightly screenings beneath the desert sky.

Founded in 2012 by film producer Eyal Shiray in collaboration with the Central Arava Regional Council, the festival opens on November 4 with a focus on films backed by the Negev Film Fund and shot in the Israeli desert. Among the highlighted Israeli features is Ruthy Pribar’s "What is to Come," starring Ronit Yudkevitch, which tells the story of a woman rediscovering herself after four decades of marriage. Another premiere is Shiran Sheharbani’s "Zebras," which follows three friends attending a desert costume party and explores the evolution of their long-term friendship.

The program also includes "Short in the Desert," a segment showcasing four locally produced short films, with one project developed through a filmmaking incubator aimed at women from the Negev’s Bedouin community. Israeli cinema is further represented by Asaf Machnes’s "Where To," which debuted at the Berlin International Film Festival and garnered Ophir Awards for Best Actor Asab Salami and Best Supporting Actor Ido Tako.

For the tenth consecutive year, the festival will host a seminar designed for high school film students from across Israel. This educational initiative facilitates dialogue between emerging filmmakers and established industry professionals, fostering engagement with both contemporary and classic cinema.

A special Billy Wilder retrospective will honor the late journalist and artistic adviser Edna Fainaru, who passed away in June. Fainaru was instrumental in shaping the festival’s program alongside her husband, Dan Fainaru. The tribute will screen restored versions of iconic Wilder works such as "Double Indemnity," "Sabrina," "Some Like It Hot," and "The Apartment." Additional classic films slated for screening include Ingmar Bergman’s "The Seventh Seal," Sergio Leone’s "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," and Martin Scorsese’s "After Hours."

The international program features nine Israeli premieres, among them May el-Toukhy’s "Woman Unknown," Florian Zeller’s "Bunker," starring Javier Bardem and Penélope Cruz, and Peter Farrelly’s "I Play Rocky." Georgian filmmaker Levan Koguashvili is expected to attend the screenings of his film "Guria," alongside members of the cast and crew.

Family-oriented programming will include animated films and a screening of the original "Mary Poppins."

The festival receives support from the Central Arava Regional Council, Israel’s Culture and Sport Ministry through the Israel Film Council, the Development of the Negev and Galilee Ministry, the Tourism Ministry, the Regional Cooperation Ministry, and the national lottery Mifal Hapayis. These partnerships reinforce the event’s role as a key cultural gathering in the region, with its expanded format enabling an increased number of screenings at the desert venue this year.