The Israeli Film Festival is returning to Los Angeles after a multi-year hiatus.

The 36th edition of the fest arrives over one year into the Israel-Hamas War that has claimed tens of thousands of lives and hurled the country into an existential crisis, while also stoking anti-Israel and antisemitic sentiment around the world.

Despite the unprecedented hurdles, festival organizers feel the time is right to remount the event.

“Although this year has presented significant challenges for Israel as well as the Jewish and Israeli communities worldwide, we decided to move forward with the festival after postponing it for two-and-a-half years,” Meir Fenigstein, the fest’s founder and executive director, tells The Hollywood Reporter.

“We are a non-political organization. Our screenings are open to the public and all are welcome. Saying that, we significantly increased security measures at all screenings across venues to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests,...