Israel - Past and Future The "key to understanding" of the third edition of the Pitigliano Film Festival is a more intimate view of a country that is both well-known and underestimated at the same time: Israel. Why has this particular choice? Well, a festival of Jewish cinema and culture could hardly ignore the birthplace of the Jewish people (who, in fact, call Israel simply "Ha'aretz" - the Land). A country that stands as "symbol", a thread of continuity between past and future, a natural bridge in the Mediterranean between Europe and the Middle East, inhabited by a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-religious, polyglot society. A country "ancient and new", with a particular characteristic: the youth of its population. For young people have always had, and always will have, the right and duty to safeguard peace which, with freedom and justice, is not perhaps accidentally the principle underlying the Declaration of the Foundation of the State of Israel. Thus through cinema, the paradigmatic young art, the Festival aims at providing a rare chance to make a new "acquaintance". Features and shorts - also from young students of the film schools - round tables with directors, actors and critics, will provide a glimpse of a vital and various world. From October 29th to November 1st 2000 the ancient country town of Pitigliano (often called "Little Jerusalem") will offer for the third year running a warm and pleasant welcome to the culture of a part of world very close to us but insuficiently known and still under-appreciated. Michela Scomazzon Galdi Artistic Director