Joseph Cedar, Ari Folman, Dover Kossashvili, Eran Kolirin, Samuel Maoz, Yaron Shani & Scandar Kopti are among the film makers whose first efforts were supported by the Israeli Film Fund, now celebrating its 30th anniversary. In that time, Israeli cinema has flourished, drawing the attention of audiences and critics at home and abroad. This September, the latest harvest of Israeli films will be screened at the Haifa International Film Festival, which will take place September 23 – 30, and the Israeli Film Fund will be honored with a special tribute. 74 new Israeli films will participate in the festival: 8 features, 6 television dramas, 15 documentaries and 45 short films.
Ronit Elkabetz, diva of Israeli film, will be honored by the festival at the opening ceremonies for her contribution to Israeli cinema. From her first film “The Intended” in 1990, to her most recent performance in Mabul – for which she has been nominated for an Ophir Award – Elkabetz has been a striking presence in film, in Israel and in France. She has received three Ophir Awards for her roles in Sh’Cur (1994), Late Marriage (2001) and The Band’s Visit (2007). “Shiva” which she co-directed with her brother Shlomi Elkabetz, won the 2008 Wolgin Award for Best Film at the Jerusalem Film Festival, and in May 2010 she received the France Culture Award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Films participating in the Israeli Feature Film Competition:
A Man Without A Cellphone directed by Sameh Zoabi, produced by Amir Harel, Ayelet Kait, Murray Gutman
Bein HaShmashot (Between Suns), directed by Alon Zingman, produced by Assaf Amir
Hitpartzut X, directed by Eytan Tzur, produced by Eilon Rachkovsky, Eli Meirovich, Yossi Ozred, Guy Yekuel and Yohanan Kardo
Je T’aime I Love You Terminal, directed and produced by Danny Menkin
Mabul, directed by Guy Nativ, produced by Hilik Michaeli, Avraham Farhi, Tami Leon, Ina Fishman
Nika, directed by Arnon Tzadok, produced by Doron Eran, Moshe and Leon Edri
Srak Srak, directed by Haim Buzaglo, produced by Haim Buzaglo, Yaniv Hamama and Paul Simon
The Human Resources Manager, directed by Eran Riklis, produced by Haim Mekelberg, Esti Yaakov Mekelberg, Eli Meirovich, Tanasis Karatanus, Moshe Edri, Leon Edri, Yigal Mugrabi, Todor Georgio, Talia Kleinhendler, Carl Baumgarten.
