Netanyahu’s document “The Bibi Files” has been published in many territories

EXCLUSIVE: Benjamin Netanyahu doc Bibi files secured distribution in many territories despite attempts by Israel’s controversial prime minister to block the film.

The work, directed by Alexis Bloom and production Alex Gibneyprovides unprecedented insight into the background to Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial through never-before-seen footage of the politician’s police interrogations, as well as his wife Sara and son Yair.

In Europe, the document was sold to Benelux countries (September Film), France (Dulac Distribution), Poland (Against Gravity), Spain (Filmin) and Great Britain (Dogwoof).

It was also acquired for Australia and New Zealand (Madman), Indonesia (PT Falcon), Middle East and Turkey (Teleview).

Goodfellas went on sale ahead of the Toronto International Film Festival, where it was filmed was thrown out by a Jerusalem court a day after Netanyahu’s lawyers sought an injunction against the film’s release in Canada.

The deal announcement follows news last week that the doc will be released in the US on new direct film distribution platform Jolt. Gibney said they decided to go this route because the major platforms were worried about the film.

The awards season and release strategy was built around the Jolt deal. The finished version of the doc will have its world premiere on November 14th at DOC NYC, and it recently made it to the annual edition of the event. DOC NYC’s best list of featuresa strong predictor of major awards, including the Oscars.

The Academy Awards screening will immediately follow at the Santa Monica Laemmle Theater in Los Angeles. The theatrical run in New York begins on December 11 at the IFC Center. According to Oscar rules, digital distribution via Jolt can start anytime after the first day of Laemmle’s launch.

Dogwoof also submitted an art document for the Baftas.

Interspersed with footage of police interrogations and interviews with prominent Israeli figures, the documentary explores speculation that Netanyahu was trying to push through the controversial reform IsraelBy weakening the power of the Supreme Court, the Russian judiciary saved its own skin in 2023.

The paper also examines suggestions that public outcry and widespread protests against reforms seen as undermining the rule of law diverted the country from its defense priorities before the October 7 Hamas attack. The film also examines Netanyahu’s role in funneling millions of dollars to Hamas from Qatar before the attack.

Commenting on the events after October 7, respondents suggested that Netanyahu supported the war in Gaza and beyond as a way to maintain power in Israel.

In January 2020, Netanyahu was indicted on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in three separate cases, with the trial beginning four months later and lasting at least until 2028.

The film’s release in the US coincides with the resumption of the corruption trial on December 2 for part of the defense, during which the Israeli prime minister is scheduled to speak.

In addition, Netanyahu’s lawyers last month asked Israel’s attorney general and police commissioner to open a criminal investigation against journalist Raviv Drucker, who is the film’s producer, for his involvement in the documentary.

Gibney is producing under his New York-based Jigsaw Productions banner, along with Bloom, Drucker, Kara Elverson and David Ratz. Edited by Andy Grieve and Ace Khalil Efrat.

Erin Edeiken, Richard Perello, Lyn Davis Lear, Shabnur Gaibova, Maria Logan, TM Scruggs, Wafik Saeed, Jim Schwartz, Amed Khan, Alexandra Rage, Jemima Khan Goldsmith and Nick Shumaker are executive producers.

Bloom is a three-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee. Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes (2018), executive produced by Gibney, and Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (2017). Recent credits include Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenbergg, filmed together with Svetlana Zill, which premiered at Cannes in 2023.