Filmmaker Alexis Bloom returns with her latest project, The Bibi Files, a provocative documentary that presents a damning portrait of Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his inner circle. The documentary features never-before-seen police interrogation tapes, offering an intimate and explosive look at the controversial figure, his wife Sara, their son Yair, and many close associates, including Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan and Miriam Adelson, widow of casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. The film reveals how far-reaching the Netanyahu family's influence is, and the extent of the alleged corruption.

“It’s about getting to know the first family of Israel in a whole new way,” says Bloom, known for Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg. The Bibi Files delves into the unfiltered reality of Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu, leveraging leaked police interrogation videos featuring Netanyahu's close family and associates. The leaked footage showcases intimate conversations, exposing luxury indulgences and providing a rare glimpse into how Netanyahu and his inner circle have wielded power and influence across Israel and beyond.

The leaked interrogation tapes, mostly in Hebrew and with often poor picture and audio quality, were obtained in mysterious circumstances—“a gift and an enormous challenge,” according to Bloom. These tapes are among the documentary’s most significant assets, showing interactions with authorities during the investigation that eventually led to Netanyahu's 2019 indictment on charges of breach of trust, bribery, and fraud. Netanyahu, who has denied all charges, remains embroiled in ongoing legal battles, with the documentary spotlighting the alleged corruption within his government.

The documentary opens with a scene of Netanyahu sitting in his Balfour Street office, taking part in one of approximately seven police interviews. The film gives audiences access to unguarded moments, showing police questioning him about his family's alleged misdeeds and lavish lifestyle. The doc provides a captivating view into the Netanyahu family's excesses—from Benjamin's passion for $1,100 Cohiba Behike cigars to Sara's insistence on pink Champagne, which often came at a high price, both financially and politically.

The film features accounts from several individuals who were close to the family. Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan's former assistant, Hadas Klein, shares details about how she was responsible for ensuring Sara never ran out of her favorite Champagne. The footage also reveals how Milchan, at times, personally delivered the Champagne to the Netanyahu residence, describing a complex mix of obligation and fear when interacting with the prime minister's wife. “I felt that the prime minister’s wife would torture him if she didn’t have a little to drink,” Milchan humorously tells investigators, highlighting the power dynamics within the family.

One of the documentary's most gripping themes is how those within Netanyahu's orbit were pressured into providing gifts. Miriam Adelson, another prominent figure in the film, recalls Sara hinting that she would like a Tiffany & Co. necklace similar to one purchased by Milchan. The film claims that Milchan sought assurance from Netanyahu before buying the jewelry, asking if such a gift would be appropriate. Netanyahu's response: “A friend can give a gift to a friend… just not a house.” Throughout the footage, there are numerous instances of Netanyahu's close confidants being put in positions where they were compelled to provide luxuries for the first family, whether voluntarily or not.

Israeli investigative journalist Raviv Drucker, who collaborated with Bloom on the film, plays a key role in narrating how the corruption allegations snowballed. Drucker himself has faced backlash, including three unsuccessful lawsuits from Netanyahu, as well as demands from Netanyahu to Israel’s attorney general to investigate him. The documentary claims that Netanyahu “kept around him, in almost every part of the world, someone like a sugar daddy,” who helped finance his extravagant tastes, including Cohiba cigars and rare Champagnes.

Beyond the material excesses, the documentary highlights Sara Netanyahu’s significant influence over the prime minister. According to Bloom, those closest to the family—from former chiefs of staff to household employees—uniformly describe Sara as wielding political power alongside her husband. Drucker alleges that Sara is always in the loop and involved in key decisions, with her disapproval often having major consequences. In the film, Drucker even goes as far as to say the Netanyahus operate as a political unit, making their relationship a key driver in how the country is governed.

The documentary covers three main cases stemming from the corruption probe, illustrating how Netanyahu allegedly used his power for personal gain. Milchan's role is particularly revealing: a former international arms dealer and Israeli spy, Milchan was allegedly involved in securing Netanyahu's opulent lifestyle, from cigars to jewelry. According to Drucker, Netanyahu attempted to pass an amendment to Israel's tax-exemption legislation to save Milchan millions of dollars. Milchan's involvement didn’t end there; he also pressured Netanyahu to help him reinstate his long-term U.S. residency visa, which had been revoked after he spoke publicly about assisting an Israeli nuclear project.

The Netanyahu-Milchan connection culminates with Milchan asking police officers to refrain from using the word "bribe." Netanyahu himself tried to justify his actions, claiming that assisting Milchan was a matter of national security, an explanation that prosecutors found hard to believe. Bloom reveals how prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges against Milchan, speculating whether this was a strategic move to ensure Milchan’s cooperation as a witness.

The documentary also focuses on Shaul Elovitch, an Israeli telecom mogul accused of violating securities law. The film presents allegations that Elovitch turned over editorial control of his popular news outlet to Netanyahu, benefiting from favorable coverage in exchange for Netanyahu's regulatory intervention that saved Elovitch hundreds of millions of dollars. In the film, Netanyahu's son, Yair, denies trying to influence media coverage, although police questioning reveals a different side to the story.

Bloom and Drucker argue that the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon have been politically advantageous for Netanyahu, helping delay the resolution of his corruption cases. As Israel faces conflict on multiple fronts, Bloom suggests that Netanyahu is using the chaos to his advantage, keeping his far-right coalition satisfied while delaying his own legal reckoning. “The most disgraceful thing is Yair Netanyahu living in Miami, while other men his age are serving in the army,” says Bloom, pointing to a disparity between the prime minister's family and ordinary Israelis.

The film also delves into Netanyahu’s relationships with prominent political figures, including Donald Trump, who Bloom suggests Netanyahu sees as malleable. “Bibi is rubbing his hands together with glee at the American election results,”Bloom claims, adding that Netanyahu’s confidence in his ability to manipulate Trump is based on past interactions.

Despite efforts by the Israeli government to block its release, The Bibi Files premiered at DOC NYC on Thursday and is set to launch a qualifying Oscar run in Los Angeles on Friday. The film’s release comes as Netanyahu prepares to testify in his corruption trial on December 2, following his latest request for a delay being denied. The documentary paints a picture of a leader who has conflated himself with the state of Israel, believing he is uniquely capable of leading the nation, regardless of the means employed.

The Bibi Files is an urgent journalistic exposé that draws on never-before-seen footage and fresh interviews with key Israeli figures. This revealing film captures the extent of the corruption scandal that led to Netanyahu's indictment and demonstrates how far political power can be wielde

d for personal gain. Due to privacy laws in Israel, the documentary cannot be screened there, though it will be available globally on Jolt.film starting December 11.

Public Screenings:

• DOC NYC World Premiere Thursday, November 14, 2024 9:00 PM at IFC Center

• Doc NYC Screening Sunday, November 17, 2024 9:05 PM At Village East by Angelika

• Oscar Qualifying Run in LA: Starting Friday

• Available for streaming on Jolt.film from December 11
  

The Bibi Files at Doc NYC