Veteran documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney, renowned for tackling complex issues throughout his career, wasn’t initially planning a film about Israel. However, a massive leak of video recordings transformed his trajectory.
Last year, an anonymous source contacted Gibney through the encrypted messaging app Signal, offering access to a staggering trove of police interviews. The footage featured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his wife Sara, their son Yair, and a network of associates and patrons, all implicated in a sprawling corruption case against the prime minister. The total: over 1,000 hours of recordings.
Despite not speaking Hebrew, gibney recognized the significance. He collaborated with longtime Israeli investigative reporter Raviv Drucker, who meticulously analyzed the material, revealing its explosive nature. To bring the project to life,gibney enlisted director Alexis Bloom,who possessed firsthand experience working in Israel.
The result is “The Bibi Files,” a hard-hitting documentary that arrives at a pivotal moment: Netanyahu’s long-running corruption trial culminated this week with the prime minister taking the stand.
While the timing is opportune, the film faced meaningful obstacles. Securing funding required secrecy,as potential backers were hesitant to support a project with such sensitive content. The outbreak of war following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, further intensified these concerns.Perhaps the most formidable hurdle was legal restrictions in Israel prohibiting the film’s exhibition due to privacy laws surrounding such proceedings. Ironically, this hasn’t deterred Israeli viewers. Many have accessed the film through VPNs to bypass streaming restrictions or by watching pirated copies circulating on social media. “The film is being illegally shared extensively in Israel,” Bloom remarked.
Netanyahu’s court appearance coincides with the release of ”The Bibi Files,” as he becomes the first sitting Israeli leader to face criminal charges while in office. Facing charges of fraud, breach of trust, and bribery across three separate cases, Netanyahu is accused of accepting lavish gifts from a billionaire Hollywood producer in exchange for favors and enriching media moguls through favorable regulatory decisions in return for positive media coverage.
Leaked police footage captures a defiant 75-year-old Netanyahu sitting in a surprisingly modest office, a map of the region behind him.Throughout his questioning, he vehemently denies the allegations, dismisses witnesses as liars, and claims to be preoccupied with matters of national security. When pressed about the number of champagne bottles received, he retorts that his focus lies on counting missiles threatening Israel, not bottles. His frequent response to incriminating questions is a claim of faulty memory.”We have several individuals on record affirming Netanyahu’s exceptional memory,” Gibney observes. “Yet, whenever the questioning turns potentially incriminating, he cites memory lapses.”
Reviews in Israeli media have been largely positive, albeit acknowledging the film’s critical portrayal of Netanyahu. Predictably, public reaction mirrors existing divisions over the polarizing leader. Netanyahu and his supporters argue that he’s a victim of a politically motivated witch hunt orchestrated by a antagonistic media and a biased justice system.
The film, woven together from police footage, commentary from former officials, Netanyahu associates, journalists, and analysts, including Drucker, opens with Netanyahu’s initial interrogation.
“The threat of prison looms large over Netanyahu,focusing his mind like nothing else,” comments Nimrod Novik,a former advisor to the late Prime Minister Shimon Peres. One of the film’s central arguments, put forth by Gibney and Bloom, is that Netanyahu’s fear of imprisonment has influenced his policy decisions, ranging from judicial reforms to matters of war.
Throughout his questioning, Netanyahu appears indignant. “these are delusional questions,” he tells the interrogators.”This is preposterous and insane.”
in other scenes, billionaire Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan, a friend of Netanyahu’s and a Prosecution witness, recounts personally delivering expensive pink champagne on demand to Sara Netanyahu as part of an alleged quid-pro-quo scheme.Sara Netanyahu herself sits for questioning, sharply admonishing the interviewers: “How are you not ashamed of yourselves?” She maintains that her husband is venerated as a king internationally.
Footage also features interviews with Israeli-American billionaires Sheldon and Miriam Adelson. Sheldon Adelson expresses discomfort with the relationship, stating, “I don’t think I’ll continue the relationship with them,” and expresses dismay over the cost of Netanyahu’s preferred Cuban cigars: $1,100 for a box of 10.
Yair Netanyahu, the couple’s 33-year-old son, adopts a combative stance during his interrogation: “You are investigating me because the Israeli police has become the Stasi secret police, seeking to overthrow the goverment.”
Director Bloom insists the film is not intended to preach to the choir, targeting instead centrist viewers:
“A staunch Netanyahu supporter will likely remain one nonetheless,” Bloom states. “Though, there’s a large centrist population. It’s primarily a portrait of one family.I don’t believe it’s anti-Israel in any way.”
Following the October 7th attack, the filmmakers paused briefly, grappling with how to incorporate the unfolding events into the narrative. As part of the ancient context, they include chilling scenes of the raid on Israel and the subsequent war in Gaza.
“What impact will this have?” gibney recalls pondering. ” With time, it became evident that the story of corruption we began documenting before October 7th continued to escalate in scope.”
Premiering on the new streaming service Jolt.film, the film draws a direct connection between Netanyahu’s legal woes and the war, arguing through various commentators that the criminal cases prompted Netanyahu to weaken Israel’s judiciary, triggering mass protests and societal divisions that created a perception of national vulnerability, emboldening hamas to attack. (Netanyahu vehemently denies these allegations.)
Bloom hopes that viewers of “The Bibi Files” will consider the concept of term limits, given Netanyahu’s 17 years as Prime Minister. She also hopes the film will underscore the idea that criticizing the Prime Minister of Israel is not inherently antisemitic or anti-Israel, but rather a legitimate act of democratic discourse.
**What are the main themes explored in “The Bibi Files”?**
Interview between Time.news Editor adn Alex gibney on “The Bibi Files”
Time.news editor (TNE): Alex, thank you for joining us today. Your career has been defined by tackling some complex and challenging subjects, but what drew you to make a film about Israel?
Alex Gibney (AG): Thanks for having me. Initially, Israel wasn’t on my radar for a new project. But when I received that anonymous tip on signal,it changed everything.the sheer volume of material—over 1,000 hours of police interviews—was staggering. I realized we had the opportunity to explore something profound happening in a democratic society.
TNE: Let’s talk about that material. What was your first reaction when you realized what you had on your hands?
AG: It was a mix of excitement and trepidation. I don’t speak Hebrew, so I knew I needed a strong collaborator who could sift through the footage. That’s when I reached out to Raviv Drucker. Together, we uncovered just how explosive this material was. It was a rare glimpse into the inner workings of political corruption at the highest level in Israel.
TNE: You faced many hurdles in producing this film, especially regarding funding and legal restrictions in Israel. Can you tell us more about those challenges?
AG: Absolutely. Securing funding was tricky as potential backers were understandably wary about the sensitive nature of the content we were dealing with. Then, when the conflict escalated following the Hamas-led attack in October, those concerns intensified considerably. The legal restrictions in Israel, especially surrounding privacy laws in this criminal proceeding, made it even more elaborate. Ironically, this hasn’t stopped Israelis from trying to see the film—many have found ways to watch it through VPNs or pirated copies.
TNE: Considering the gravity of the situation in Israel, do you think there’s an added importance to this film being released now, especially with Netanyahu’s ongoing trial?
AG: Most definitely.Not only is this document crucial because it aligns with Netanyahu’s trial, but it also serves as a reflection of the current turmoil in Israeli politics. This is the first time a sitting Israeli leader has faced criminal charges. The film provides context and insight into the allegations, especially his relationships with media moguls and the alleged gifts received from powerful figures.
TNE: In light of the evidence presented, how did you personally perceive Netanyahu during the interviews?
AG: The footage paints a engaging portrait of him. Despite being confronted with serious allegations, he maintains a defiant posture, often redirecting the conversation back to national security. His responses are telling—when asked about accepting champagne bottles, he focuses on missile threats rather.It raises questions about accountability and memory. He claims forgetfulness when it’s inconvenient, yet witnesses testify to his sharp memory otherwise.
TNE: That duality is striking. The public reaction in Israel has been largely positive; what do you hope audiences take away from “The Bibi Files”?
AG: I hope viewers are prompted to reflect on the relationship between power and accountability. It’s not just about Netanyahu; it’s about the ramifications of corruption and the strength of democracy. The citizens need to engage with their leaders, question them, and hold them accountable, especially when it comes to maintaining integrity in public office.
TNE: It truly seems “The Bibi Files” challenges viewers to consider these critical issues and engage in public discourse. Thank you for sharing your insights with us today, Alex.
AG: Thank you for having me! It’s been a pleasure to discuss this vital project.