NEW YORK, NY — At tonight’s opening ceremony for the 42nd Jerusalem Film Festival, Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America – the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States – presented the Israeli-born international movie star GAL GADOT with its Power of Dreams Award for her courageous advocacy on behalf of Israel.
Gadot, a national icon in Israel, is only the second person to receive the Hadassah award. In 2016, Oscar®-and Emmy® Award-winning actress and entrepreneur GWYNETH PALTROW became the first to be given the honor, which recognizes women whose vision and actions mirror those of Hadassah’s founder, Henrietta Szold. It was Szold’s compassion and foresight which laid the foundation for Israel’s modern healthcare system.
Since the October 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas, Gadot, who found international fame in 2016, when she first portrayed Wonder Woman in what became an American superhero franchise, and who is the first Israeli actor to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has become equally well known for speaking out on behalf of her country. She has continued to do so despite the harsh criticism sometimes aimed at her as a result.
Before an international audience of 7,000 filmmakers, cinephiles and dignitaries, including Mayor of Jerusalem Moshe Lion, Carol Ann Schwartz, Hadassah National President, Carol Ann Schwartz presented Gadot with the Power of Dreams Award, an intricate papercut of a wreath of colored flowers created by Israeli artist Amalya Nini.
The dedication written on the award praises the actress for “using [her] global platform to advocate for truth and justice” and concludes with a line from the Biblical story of Esther, the Jewish heroine who risked her life for her people: “Perhaps this is the moment for which you were created.”
“The decision to honor Gal Gadot was a natural one,” said Schwartz. “At a time when Israel faces complex and painful challenges, her voice offers clarity and strength. This award is not just about dreams fulfilled. It is about the responsibility that comes with influence and the hope it will continue to inspire.”
Said Gadot, “This is an opportunity for me to say a huge thank-you for the award to Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, which plays a vital role in the development of medicine in Israel. I love my country and I’m proud to be a part of it and to make our voices heard.”
Gadot and American producer Lawrence Bender (“Pulp Fiction,” “Good Will Hunting”) were the guests of honor at the film festival’s kickoff event, which took place at the Sultan’s Pool Amphitheater, one of Jerusalem's most spectacular outdoor locations. Both artists received the festival’s Achievement Award for their contributions to international cinema, joining a list of past honorees that includes Robert De Niro, Helen Mirren, Quentin Tarantino and Wim Wenders.
The last two decades have seen Gadot become a global movie star who has shared the screen with Ben Affleck, Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise, Gary Oldman, Mark Wahlberg, Kate Winslet and many other top Hollywood talents and take on the role of producer as well as an actress. (Click here for a full bio of Gal Gadot.)
Established in 1984, the Jerusalem Film Festival is Israel’s longest-running and leading film festival. Over 10 days each summer, 70,000 visitors come to see more than 200 films from 60 countries. This year’s festival runs from July 17 to July 26 at the Jerusalem Cinematheque.