Israeli Film Archive Jerusalem Cinematheque

The Jerusalem Cinematheque is a cinematheque and film archive located in Jerusalem, Israel. Founded in 1973 by Lia van Leer, it serves as one of the country's principal institutions for film preservation, exhibition, and education. The Cinematheque houses the Israeli Film Archive and plays a central role in Israeli cinematic culture, maintaining collections that span from the 1920s to the present day.

Lia van Leer established the Jerusalem Cinematheque in 1973. Its first home was in Beit Agron in central Jerusalem. In 1981, the institution moved to a purpose-built new building overlooking the walls of the Old City, near the Hinnom Valley. This relocation was made possible through financial support from the Ostrovsky Family Foundation, the Jerusalem Foundation, the Van Leer Foundation, and private donors. The move represented a significant expansion of the Cinematheque's physical and institutional presence in the city.

The Jerusalem Cinematheque contains multiple specialized collections and departments. The Israel Film Archive preserves films from the 1920s to the present. The institution also maintains the Nathan Axelrod Newsreel Collection, the Joan Sourasky-Constantiner Holocaust Multimedia Research Center, the Department for Film and Media Education, and the Lew and Edie Wasserman Film Library. These holdings combine historical documentation, educational resources, and research materials spanning nearly a century of film history.

The Nathan Axelrod Newsreel Collection constitutes a significant portion of the archive's holdings, documenting historical events through newsreel footage. The Joan Sourasky-Constantiner Holocaust Multimedia Research Center provides specialized resources for the study of Holocaust-related film and media. The Lew and Edie Wasserman Film Library supports research and education with its dedicated collection.

The Cinematheque's building, opened in 1981, is situated in a prominent location overlooking the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, close to the Hinnom Valley. This setting places the institution in visual and cultural dialogue with one of the most historically significant areas of the city. The building contains screening halls alongside its archival and research facilities, integrating public exhibition with preservation and scholarship.

The Jerusalem Cinematheque operates under the auspices of the supporting foundations that enabled its construction, including the Ostrovsky Family Foundation, the Jerusalem Foundation, and the Van Leer Foundation. Its official website is http://www.jer-cin.org.il. The institution continues to function as an active cinematheque with screening halls, serving both as a public venue for film exhibition and as a research archive. The Jerusalem Film Festival, referenced in connection with the Cinematheque, represents one of the notable public programs associated with the institution.