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Archives from the Festival in 2009 |
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Lost Islands Israel 2007 -- 93 minutes Director: Reshef Levy |
Set in 1980, “Lost Islands”, an autobiographical film about an Israeli family with five children, was the biggest box office success in Israel 2008. The story revolves around twin brothers, Erez and Ofer. Their father, Mr. Levi, constantly stresses to the boys the importance of fulfilling their dreams, while their mother, Mrs. Levi, preaches absolute family loyalty. When the boys both fall in love with the same girl, the ideals instilled in them by their parents clash and they are forced to decide between family loyalty and love. When Erez attempts to escape the troubles at home by enrolling in the army, he undergoes life-changing events, which force him to mature and recognize that he must choose between pursuing his dreams and being faithful to his family. . |
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The Beetle Awards: Opening night film for Doc Aviv the prestigious documentary film festival in Tel Aviv. Winner of the Audience Laurel Award at the HotDocs Festival in Toronto Israel 2008 -- 103 minutes Hebrew/Arabic with English subtitles Director: Yishai Orian |
Oren loves his wife and is overjoyed when she becomes pregnant. But
Eliraz is adamant - Yishai's love for his clapped-out old Volkswagen
Beetle is irrational, it's no family car and it has to go.
There are millions of "Beetlemaniacs" around the world and Yishai is
one of them. He is determined to prove that his love for his car is
not irrational. To prove his point, he tracks down all the previous
owners of his VW and then, with his wife due to give birth within
days, sets out for Jordan in the hope of finding a mechanic who will
be willing to provide a quick, complete - and cheap - overhaul. We
join the multi-award winning filmmaker on his extremely funny and
touching road trip as he introduces us to the people, who owned,
loved and even gave birth in his cherished car. Orian is reluctant
to let go of the past, and he debates his options to repair or sell
the car. |
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The Debt Awards: The film was nominated for four awards at the Israel Film Academy, including Best Supporting Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Art Direction, and Best Costumes. Israel 2007 -- 93 minutes Director: Assaf Bernstein |
The Debt is an enthralling cat and mouse thriller, which takes place in
Israel in the mid-1990s. The protagonist, Rachel, is a retired Mossad
agent who published memoirs boasting of how she helped to capture a Nazi
war criminal. This criminal, notoriously known as the “Surgeon of
Birkenau,” was never put on trial but rumored to have committed suicide.
Thirty years later, a frail man in a nursing home in the Ukraine claims
to be the monstrous surgeon, leaving long-time national hero Rachel with
some business to take care of. . |
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The Galilee Eskimos Festivals: AICE Film Festival Australia, 2007 Israel 2007 -- 99 minutes. Director: Jonathan Paz.
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The Galilee Eskimos is set in a kibbutz tucked in the hills of Galilee. When the kibbutz goes bankrupt, men, women, and children abandon their homes and shockingly leave behind a dozen residents of an old folks’ home who are left to fend for themselves. A contractor who has a deal with the creditors arrives at the kibbutz shocked to discover that these senior citizens were abandoned. These feisty old folks, while feeling initially depressed and betrayed by their relatives, begin to regain hope of rebuilding the kibbutz by themselves. |
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The Bubble Awards: Best Documentary - Israeli Academy Awards, 2007, Special Jury Nomination Award - DocAviv, 2007, Nominated European Film Award for Best Documentary, 2007. Israel 2006 -- 100 minutes Director: Eytan Fox. |
The Bubble is the story of three young Israelis, Noam, Lulu, and
Yali, who share an apartment in the heart of Tel Aviv’s hippest
neighborhood. During the day they all work hard, but sneak out for
cigarette breaks. In the evenings they hit the town drinking or stay
at home watching television. Their last concern is the country’s
problems, and they are uninterested in the conflicts of the Middle
East. However, when Noam falls in love with Ashraf, a Palestinian
guy, the three Israelis decide to illegally hide him in their
apartment. He becomes a part of their family, but they find that
their love and friendship cannot withstand the harsh reality. The
film examines a different view of young Israeli life, focusing on
love, friendship, and music, while also looking at the prejudices
encountered by Palestinians and gays in contemporary Israeli
culture |
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Shiva Awards: Winner of Israeli Academy Film Awards 2008: Best Cinematography and Best Supporting Actress Jerusalem International Film Festival : The Wolgin Award for Best Full-Length Feature Film & The Award for the Best Actress Mostra de Valencia - The Golden Palm, Prize for Best Director and Best Performance of an Actress Israel
2008 -- 103 minutes Directors: Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz
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Shiva is set in 1991 in the midst of the first Gulf War when Israel is under daily missile attacks. The Ohayon family is hit with a tragedy of their own when beloved Maurice, one of nine brothers and sisters, suddenly passes away. The family gathers to mourn for seven days where religious law forbids them to leave the house. In this emotional roller coaster, jealousy, financial problems, gossip, and long-term rivalries are brought to the surface as the siblings face their own frustrations and ambitions. |
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The Little Traitor
Awards: Best Drama - Sundance Dramatic World Cinema Jury Award, 2007, Best Feature Film - Berlin FF Crystal Bear, 2007, Israeli Academy - Best Film Award 2006, and entry to the 2007 Oscars® Israel
2007 -- 90 minutes Director:Lynn Roth. |
The Little Traitor is about Proffy Leibowitz, a spirited 11-year-old Israeli militant who desperately wants the occupying British off his land. However, when he meets British officer, Sergeant Dunlop, a beautiful, implausible friendship is formed. Proffy meets his new friend each day, but when town officials learn of their secret, they accuse the boy of being a traitor. The beautiful story is based on Panther in the Basement by world-renowned novelist Amos Oz. |
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