• Cast
• Crew

Where can I see the film?

JERUSALEM will play on IMAX® and Giant Screens primarily in Museums and Science Centers around the world, starting in September 2013. Please check our website for accurate current screening information. If you don’t find your city, it doesn’t mean the film will not eventually play there. You can help bring the film to your area. Reach out to your nearest institutional IMAX, Giant or digital 3D screen theater and let them know you would like to see the film. Encourage others (friends, groups, organizations) to do the same. The more demand there is for the film, the more likely that the theater will decide to show it.

Can I bring a group to see Jerusalem?

Of course! Most theatres have direct group booking lines accessible from their websites. If you have any problems or questions do not hesitate to email Jerusalem@ngs.org.

Why Jerusalem?

Jerusalem is “a must” on many people’s list of places to visit once in their lives, but few make the trip due to perceived security risks and volatility of this part of the world. We believe this film, seen in IMAX® or on the Giant Screen, is not only the next best thing to being there, but also provides a one-of-a-kind immersion into parts of Jerusalem and the Holy Land that most tourists and pilgrims never see.

What’s the story?

The film tells multiple stories. There’s the story of what it means to live in Jerusalem today from the perspective of three female teenagers (Jewish, Christian and Muslim) and their families who have long-standing ties to the city. There’s the detective story told by the narrator, Benedict Cumberbatch, and the renowned archaeologist, Dr. Jodi Magness, which looks at how we know what we know about Jerusalem’s past and reveals some of its mysteries. Finally there is a spiritual story looking at how Jerusalem became a holy city for half our population, culminating with ancient rituals as they are still performed in Jerusalem today, during Passover, Easter and Ramadan.

We’ve tried to weave each of these stories together so that each informs the other and the audience comes away with a better understanding of this extraordinary and complex region.

We ask several questions in the film: Why was Jerusalem considered the center of the world by so many cultures? Why is it the most fought over piece of land in history? Why did it survive while many other cities in the ancient world fell into obscurity? Why are some of the holiest sites in the world for Jews, Christians and Muslims located within this tiny square mile? While we can’t answer all these questions in a 45-minute film, we hope the story we do tell and the images we captured will provide a better understanding of why this part of the world continues to stir the imagination of billions of people and inspire audiences to learn more about Jerusalem on their own.

Is JERUSALEM a political film?

Our film is not about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It embraces the idea that Jerusalem is many cities: imagined and real; past and present; Jewish, Christian, Muslim and secular. We are trying to answer the question: Why Jerusalem? What is it about this tiny space that made it the ultimate prize of empires and the object of longing for so many different cultures over thousands of years?

The project is passionately committed to promoting co-existence between the three Abrahamic faiths on an unprecedented scale.

Who are the filmmakers behind JERUSALEM?

JERUSALEM is executive produced by the late Jake Eberts, who has financed, developed or produced some of the most celebrated films of all time, including Gandhi, Dances with Wolves and Chariots of Fire. The film is produced by Taran Davies, George Duffield and Daniel Ferguson. All three have success in creating engaging and ground-breaking documentaries. Taran conceived of and produced the IMAX® film Journey to Mecca, as well documentaries for PBS and the Sundance Channel including Afghan Stories. George’s latest film, The End of The Line, launched a global environmental campaign to protect the world’s oceans, and directly enabled the creation of the largest marine reserve in the world. Daniel, a former theology student, has worked as a writer and Line Producer on many IMAX® and 3D films, including Wired to Win: Surviving the Tour de France, and Lost Worlds, narrated by Harrison Ford.

What is unique about this film compared to other documentaries on Jerusalem?

A combination of incredibly high-resolution images, state-of-the-art projectors, giant screens, unique theater geometry and six-channel surround sound makes audiences feel as if they are experiencing Jerusalem and the Holy Land first hand. We have made every effort to compose the images and move the camera in a way that makes you feel like you are there. We looked for unique perspectives, angles and access to give you something you could never get on television or a smaller screen. We designed and edited the pictures and sound for maximum impact, whether in or on an Omnimax Dome or a 3D flat screen. Ultimately we believe seeing this film on a giant screen will help people to see Jerusalem and the Holy Land in an entirely new way, even if they’ve been there many times.

What were some of the biggest challenges you encountered making this film?

The first challenge for anyone tackling Jerusalem is the weight of the subject itself. There is so much controversy inherent in the subject matter and lack of consensus. Building trust with the different communities was key to obtaining the permits and goodwill necessary. Well before filming began, we met with key political, religious and community authorities: Israeli national and municipal leaders, the Mayor of Jerusalem, the police, the army, the Governor of East Jerusalem, the Director and members of the Supreme Islamic Council who manage Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Ministry of AWQAF and Religious Affairs in Jordan, the heads of each of the major churches in Jerusalem, including the three official custodians of the Holy Places: the Greek Orthodox Church, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land and the Armenian Apostolic Church.

We knew filming extraordinary images of Jerusalem and the Holy land from the air was vital to the success of a memorable giant screen experience. We worked for nearly a year to secure the permits to fly at low altitude over the Old City – something that has not been done in over 20 years. Even once we got the permission, we were denied the right to film on the day we were supposed to do so. Thanks to Duby Tal of Albatross and Noam Shalev of Highlight Films, we succeeded in capturing truly memorable images not likely to be repeated anytime soon.

We tied our production calendar to the high holy days of each religion so that we could be at the Western Wall during the Passover Priestly Blessing, the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) on Good Friday and Al-Aqsa Mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan. We also worked relentlessly to gain access to parts of Jerusalem that few ever see: underground quarries and tombs; ancient water tunnels and some of the active archaeological sites around the city. We were one of the only international film crews to be allowed inside the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Perhaps the most difficult single day of filming was the Ceremony of the Holy Fire. Referred to as “one of the longest running miracles in Christianity”, this elaborate ritual takes place annually on Orthodox Holy Saturday inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Thousands of pilgrims pack the church with candles waiting for the moment when “a divine light” emerges from the traditional tomb of Jesus and is passed around the church in a euphoric frenzy. We scouted the ceremony in 2010 and planned to film it with three cameras. We sought permission from all six churches that have custodial authority (The Greek Orthodox, Armenian Apostolic, Latin Catholic, Syrian Orthodox, Egyptian Coptic, and Ethiopian Orthodox). Just to run a power cable to a single light requires permission from each church body. We used 24 lights set on dimmers so not to disturb the event and had to install them almost a week in advance. We then setup in the middle of the night to get the best angles so that other TV crews and journalists would not block us. Once the church was full, we had to politely convince pilgrims to put down their iPads and camera phones in front of us or not to set our cameras on fire as they waved their torches!

What accomplishments are you most proud of on this production?

When we submitted the original script for this film to the political and religious authorities in Jerusalem, we were told we would be lucky to get half of what we asked for on paper. Through exceptional teamwork and the trust and cooperation of the residents of Jerusalem’s Old City, we succeeded in capturing nearly everything we set out to film. Equally satisfying is that we successfully employed a mixed crew of Israelis, Palestinians and internationals of different religions and points of view. We had Jews, Christians, Muslims, Mormons and atheists and everyone learned something about the other during this production. We set out with this film to foster understanding and tolerance and we saw it in action every day on the set.

How did you cast the three girls in the film?

We set out to cast real Jerusalemite students, not actors, so we worked with local schools in the city. Around 100 Muslim and Christian students applied and about half were called back to interview for 10-minutes each on video. From these we selected a few we found had most promise, and met with their families.

We found Farah Ammouri (the Muslim) at the Catholic Rosary Sister’s School when a nun walked into her class and asked all the Jerusalemite girls to raise their hands. Many of her classmates had no idea her history in Jerusalem went so far back. Farah was 15 at the time and she seemed so mature and thoughtful.

Nadia Tadros (the Christian) we found through an ad we put up on our Arabic Facebook page. She played guitar and sang her own composition for the audition. We were amazed. She had so much charisma and energy. Her family was Greek Orthodox and Catholic, so she could speak to both of the main Christian traditions in Jerusalem.

Revital Zacharie (the Jew) came to us just a few weeks before we started to film. She was interviewed at her grandparents’ home and the rapport between them was really special. You could really see a love of history passed down from generation to generation. We’re grateful to have been able to film a scene with Revital’s grandfather, who is an avid historian of Jerusalem.

Will JERUSALEM be available on DVD / Blu-Ray / online?

The film is made for IMAX® and Giant Screens. It will become available on DVD/Blu-Ray and online in time, but for the next few years your only chance to experience JERUSALEM is the way it has been conceived – on the world’s largest screens.

The Production at a Glance

• 5 years in the making (2009-2013).
• Shot over 3 years (2010, 2012, 2013) in Israel and the Palestinian Territories over 4 shoots: Aerial unit Spring 2010; Main Unit Spring 2012 (Easter and Passover), Main Unit Summer 2012 (Ramadan and Archaeology) and Time Lapse Unit Winter 2013.
• Maximum Size of Crew: 80 people.
• Filmed with 4 different cameras: IMAX® 15-perf 65mm film; Sony F65; RED Epic; Nikon D800E.
• The film employed artists and technicians from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Israel, the Palestinian Territories and Jordan.
• A 70mm 3D film print of Jerusalem weighs more than 225 kilos (500 pounds).

Thank you to all our academic advisors, sponsors and supporting institutional partners.

• Advisors
• Sponsors
• Partners

National Geographic has created a suite of standards-based educational materials to complement JERUSALEM. Please go experience them online, with accompanying interactives.

These materials will complement the film, extending the learning and providing opportunities for classroom (or other venue) discussion. Learning strands include:

• Learning about the world’s three major religions: Judaism, Christianity, & Islam
• The archaeology of Jerusalem: Many layers, many cultures
• The geography of the region surrounding Jerusalem

Visit The NatGeo Education Site

The filmmakers wish to promote a better understanding of the different beliefs surrounding Jerusalem in order to foster dialogue, respect and tolerance between the three Abrahamaic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam).

For those who wish to explore Jerusalem further from a spiritual perspective, the filmmakers asked Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and inter-faith leaders to create the following materials. They are designed to provide a basis for discussion. In addition, there are outlines for clergy to use as inspiration for sermons.