Controversial Documentary 'The Bibi Files' to Screen at European Parliament
The documentary "The Bibi Files" concerning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will be screened at the European Parliament ahead of the Knesset elections.
The controversial documentary film "The Bibi Files", which focuses on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is scheduled to be screened on September 29 at the European Parliament in Brussels, exactly four weeks before the upcoming elections to the Knesset.
The film relies heavily on leaked footage from police interrogations of Netanyahu, the display of which previously triggered legal battles on his behalf. In Israel, the visual and audio publication of such interrogation materials requires a court permit. Members of the European Parliament and their assistants are expected to attend the screening in the middle of the Israeli election campaign.
Origins and Production of the Film
Released in 2024, "The Bibi Files" was directed by Alexis Bloom and produced by Academy Award winner Alex Gibney alongside Israeli journalist Raviv Drucker. The original cinematography was handled by Avner Shahaf. A substantial portion of the documentary draws upon footage recorded by the police during the investigation of Netanyahu's corruption cases between 2016 and 2018.
According to the filmmakers, Gibney received a trove of over a thousand hours of investigative materials in 2023 from an anonymous source via the Signal application. The identity of the leaker remains undisclosed. The files include recordings from the interrogations of Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, their son Yair, and other individuals questioned in connection with the affairs.
Critical Perspective and Legal Context
The documentary is overtly critical of Netanyahu, utilizing the leaked investigative materials to offer a sharp political commentary on his recent years in office. Bloom and Gibney expand the discussion beyond the specific legal cases, linking Netanyahu's struggle over his legal and political future to several key developments in Israel, including his political alliances, the judicial overhaul initiative, and the management of government policies during the war.
"The screening is organized by M5S Europa, the European Parliament delegation of the Italian Five Star Movement, following an invitation issued by MEP Valentina Palmisano," the organizers stated.
Netanyahu has consistently denied the allegations against him, arguing for years that the criminal cases are the result of political persecution and selective enforcement. The legal battle surrounding the film began prior to its public release, when Netanyahu petitioned Israeli courts to block the presentation of the investigative materials. While courts abroad permitted screenings, the documentary has not received regular commercial distribution within Israel due to legal restrictions on publishing interrogation footage without judicial authorization.
