Israel to be country of focus

IFFI will be screening 10 films and hosting high-powered delegation

Israel will be the “country of focus” at the 49th edition of the International Film Festival of India in Goa with 10 screenings and  a delegation of leading Israeli film personalities, including popular actor Alon Abutbul, will be present. 

The opening film is The Other Story by Avi Nesher with production by David Silber. It will be screened on November 21 and will be followed by a press conference. Other known films are Academy Award candidates Footnote, Waltz with Bashir and the internationally well-esteemed The Bubble. Newer films that will be screened are Unorthodox, Red Cow, Working Woman, Longing, Redemption and Shalom Bollywood: The untold Story of Indian Cinema.

Film-making in Israel has undergone major developments since its inception in the 1950s. In the last few years, Israeli films have won reputed awards, including nomination for the Best Foreign Language films at the Academy Awards. Israeli film-makers produce films on themes that appeal to the global market, and Israel, known by many as the Start-up Nation, is home to cutting edge technologies in animation and film production.

India-Israel diplomatic relations, which completed 25 years in 2017, are gathering momentum in various fields such as trade, fin-tech and agriculture and also in the area of cinema and film production. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the galaxy of stars in Mumbai during his trip in January 2018. At the climax of his India tour, he invited Indian actors and filmmakers to come and make films in Israel. At the same event, India’s mega-star Amitabh Bachchan expressed his hope that “May cinema further fortify the strength of ties between India and Israel.”

A film co-production agreement between Israel and India, signed during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s state visit to India in January, has come into effect in September 2018. As per the agreement, a joint selection committee will be set up to consider collaboration proposals submitted by filmmakers from both countries. Expedited visas, financial grants and tax exemptions are some of the benefits the Israeli government agreed to extend in order to help joint productions.

BREAKTHROUGH

lIsraeli filmmaker Dan Wolman will be presented with a lifetime achievement award and will give a Masterclass session on November 25.

•  The  Country of Focus  will be opened with a gala evening dinner, hosted by the Israeli consulate in Mumbai, where the Indian-Israeli singer Liora Itzhak will perform few of her Bollywood-inspired pieces. A short Israeli animation film in Hindi will be launched during the event. The film, A Revival of a Nation, depicts 4,000 years of Jewish history.
•  On November 22, the consulate will host a seminar dedicated to discussing opportunities for collaborations between Israeli and Indian cinemas, where renowned Indian producers Apoorva Mehta and Vishesh Bhatt, together with Tanuj Garg, will share from their experiences on their work-visit to Israel.

On this occasion, Israel’s Consul General in Mumbai, H.E Mr. Ya’akov Finklstein said: “Israel is proud to be in focus at this year’s IFFI, and is glad for the opportunity to be able to present to Indian cinema-lovers. We hope the focus on Israel will serve as a good introduction to its cinema but also to the vibrant Israeli society. We believe this festival will promote joint work between Israeli and Indian film artists, as we think that both sides can learn a lot from each other. I invite you all to come and watch the films and then come and visit Israel itself, to enjoy at first hand the Israeli experience, for seeing is believing.”