Leon Prudovsky’s film “Five Hours From Paris” was awarded first prize in the Israeli Feature Films competition at the Haifa International Film Festival on Saturday, October 10th. Chairing the jury was actor Elliott Gould, honored guest of the festival. The jury included: Emma Clarke, Gideon Bachman, Eitan Even and Suha Arraf. The movie was produced by Haim Mecklberg, Estee Yacov-Mecklberg, Moshe Edry and Leon Edry.
The movie describes the romance between Yigal, a taxi driver from Bat Yam with love of French chansons, and Lina, a music teacher. Two lonely people, who have just about given up on finding their heart’s desire, encounter one another – and their adventure begins. The judges explained their decision, saying: “We felt that it is a very sophisticated film for a director’s first feature. The clever and sensitive style and the way in which he approaches the complexities of this modern relationship creates an enchanting story which offers the audience great depth. The movie presents nuanced performances and attention to detail, and we believe that it will win the hearts of the audience as it has won ours.”
The prize for “Discovery of the Festival” was awarded to screenwriters Erez Kav-El and Leon Prudovsky for “Five Hours From Paris.” The judges decision was based on “a sensitive story told in a minimalist manner that respects the intelligence of the audience. It is a love story that also deals with the modern expectation that one must be a great success in order to be regarded as a functional human being. The movie’s hero is everything but successful, but his inner strength enables him to remain true to himself. The screenplay of “Five Hours From Paris” is written with simplicity yet contains deep and varied layers of meaning.”
The prize for best actress in a feature was awarded jointly to Dana Ivgy and Maya Cohen for their roles in “There Were Nights.” From the judges: “We arrived at our decision after observing a particularly complex role. The role required that the audience believe that a girl can simultaneously love her parent yet also be angry with him. In this case, the past influences the present and we found that it was not possible to separate the two. The charm of the young Goni, who has complete trust in her father, is set against the older Goni’s awareness of his weakness, creating an utterly believable image, despite the fact that two different actresses play this role.”
The prize for best actor in a feature was awarded to Ofer Schecter for his role in “Phobidilia.” From the judges: “Ofer Schecter, known primarily for his many television roles and comic appearances, reveals a new aspect of himself through this role. His intensive presence on the screen won our hearts and proved that he has much to offer the world of cinema in the future.
Anat Zuria’s “Black Bus” won the Israeli Documentary Competition. The film tells the story of Sara and Shlomit, two young Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) women who are shunned by their society and their attempt to document the society from which they have fled. The judges noted Zuria’s “total commitment to bring a silenced and disturbing world to the screen in a fascinating film.” Honorable mention was given to Iris Rubin for her film “Asmar,” which focused on the relationship of her parents.
Winner of the “Golden Anchor Competition for Mediterranean Cinema” was Turkish filmmaker Mahmut Fazil Coskun’s “Wrong Rosary.”
The jury awarded an additional prize to Elia Suleiman’s “The Time That Remains,” saying: “Elia Suleiman’s vision expounds in a burlesque manner the conflict which has gone on too long. The director conveys the central dramatic message while at the same time making us laugh.
The film “Room and a Half” directed by Andrey Khrzhanovsky, was awarded the FIPRESCI prize for new directors. According to the judges: “The film succeeds in creating an image of a time and place through the use of a variety of cinematic styles and techniques, combined in an original and brilliant manner. The movie presents a complex plot based on biographical and fictional details of the life of poet Joseph Brodsky.”
