The Film Bus is the festival's flagship project, established from a belief in students' desire to promote cultural events and social engagement. It is rooted in the conviction that cinematic creation can foster a space for open, enriching, and creative dialogue. The Film Bus is a unique, non-profit project, the first of its kind in the world, that brings the festival's content, filmmakers, and volunteers to every corner of the country. Every year, in the week leading up to the festival in Tel Aviv, the bus embarks on a week-long journey across Israel, equipped with a projector, a large screen, a sound system, popcorn, and a group of Israeli and international students eager to screen their films to the public under the open sky. Each screening evening includes events with the local community and discussions with the filmmakers. All screenings are non-profit and open to the general public.
Film Bus 2025 Destinations: Kibbutz Mizra, Kibbutz Beit Alfa, Beit She'an, Kibbutz Degania Bet, Tel Aviv. This year, amidst a period of division in Israeli society, we decided to focus on the unifying power of creation and human connection. Understanding our responsibility to bridge gaps and bring different layers of society closer together, we chose to visit communities that reflect Israel’s rich cultural mosaic. Through this, we seek to highlight solidarity and human connection, demonstrating how cinema can serve as a powerful tool for dialogue, rapprochement, and social renewal. The Film Bus project is supported this year by the Matanel Foundation.
Film Bus 2024 Destinations: Kidron, Revivim, Ashalim, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Beit Elazari. In 2024, the bus traveled between kibbutzim and moshavim in the south to visit, listen, volunteer, and share stories that deserve to be heard. Our primary goal was to honor the spirit of giving that emerged at the beginning of the war, where the state and its citizens joined forces to support one another.
Film Bus 2023 Destinations: Arad, Ofakim, Ashalim, Yeruham, Mitzpe Ramon. In 2023, the bus journeyed through the south, focusing on the intersection of music and cinema. The goal was to create collaborations with emerging musical artists and foster social and professional connections with film students. This collaboration was born from the idea that cinematic and musical creation form an international language that touches a wider audience. The journey was modeled after a tour, with local youth bands performing at some of the screening events.
Film Bus 2022 Destinations: Dizengoff Center Rooftop in Tel Aviv, Herod Center in Tiberias, Youth Center in Katzrin, Beit HaKhan in Kiryat Shmona, Rosh Pinna Cinematheque Square. The bus focused on student communities, honoring the project's roots as being created by and for students. At each destination, we met with young audiences of scholarship students. We hosted young art fairs in collaboration with "Tzutzeret HaAretz" scholarship recipients at local youth centers. A month before the tour, we held film workshops with local students and community members, providing them with tools for cinematic analysis and creative writing.
