'Vulcan' forges opening to Israel Film Festival
Miami and Chicago added to roster
The touring showcase is expanding its itinerary this year, adding Miami- and Chicago-based festivals to the previous ones held yearly in L.A. and New York.
Eighteen films -- including Jonathan Sagall's Berlin Golden Bear nominee "Urban Feel" -- will compete for feature and documentary prizes, which will be bestowed during the fest's L.A. segment March 29-April 13. The Gotham segment will close with a screening of Arik Kaplun's "Yana's Friends," this year's Israeli foreign Oscar entry.
"The goal is to spotlight the Israeli film industry to the American public," festival founder and director Meir Fenigstein told Daily Variety, "to give an opportunity for Israeli filmmakers to show their product to distributors, especially in light of the decline of (the domestic market for) foreign films in recent years."
Also skedded are a special Visionary Award to honor Sony Pictures Classics toppers Michael Barker, Tom Bernard and Marcie Bloom, and an Excellence in Cinematic Arts nod that Israeli thesp Moshe Ivgi will receive.
Fest is chaired by producer Arnon Milchan and co-chaired by Barry Diller, Sherry Lansing, Sumner Redstone, Ted Turner, Terry Semel, Joe Roth, Arthur Hiller, Ron Meyer, Haim Saban and Jack Valenti.
For tickets and information, call the IsraFest Foundation at (212) 532-2075.
