Book Talk - "New Israeli Horror" with Olga Gershenson

Join the Institute virtually on Zoom on Monday, November 25, at 12:00 PM for a webinar with Olga Gershenson (UMass Amherst).
About this Event
Join the Institute virtually on Zoom on Monday, November 25, at 12:00 PM for a webinar with Olga Gershenson (University of Massachusetts Amherst). Prof. Gershenson will be discussing her latest book, New Israeli Horror: Local Cinema, Global Genre.

Before 2010, there were no Israeli horror films. The next decade saw a blossoming of the genre by young Israeli filmmakers. New Israeli Horror is the first book to tell their story and analyze their films, from inception to reception. What triggered this sudden development? Why did Israeli filmmakers turn to horror? How do their films portray Israel? What kind of horror scenarios do they depict and how? These questions are particularly poignant now, in light of the attack on October 7, which pitted the real-life horrors against the fictional ones. This talk will include clips from relevant films. No advance viewing is required.

Olga Gershenson is Professor of Judaic and Near Eastern Studies and of Film Studies at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. A multi-disciplinary scholar, her interests lie at the intersection of culture, history, and film. She is the author of (2023), (2013), Gesher: Russian Theater in Israel (2005), as well as editor of Ladies and Gents: Public Toilets and Gender (2009). She is currently working on a volume titled The Oxford Handbook of Judaism and Film.

Supported by the generosity of the Radov and Kaye families.

While all IIJS events are free and open to the public, we do encourage a suggested of $10.