22ND ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL COVERAGE

By Maria Esteves - November 24, 2007

The 22nd Israel Film Festival (IFF) 2007 was held at the Directors Guild of America Theater, Clearview Cinemas, and the Florence Gould Hall in New York City, October 23 - November 8, 2007. The festival presented by IsraFest Foundation, annually present Israeli films, panel discussions, special events, awards ceremony, and gala receptions.

Since 1982, IFF founded by Meir Fenigstein of the IsraFest Foundation, Inc. is the largest Israeli film festival in the United States. The festival is an opportunity to experience Israel through the world of cinema. IFF members are Founder/Director, Meir Fenigstein; Honorary Chair, Arnon Milchan; 2007 IFF Co-Chairmen, Bernie Brillstein, David Brown, and James Schamus.

2007 IFF Opening Night U.S. premiere feature film NOODLE, directed by Ayelet Menahemi, was held at the Directors Guild of America Theater, New York, Tuesday, October 23, 2007, 7:30 PM. 2007 IFF Opening Night Awards Ceremony preceded the U.S. premiere film.

From Israel with Love, NOODLE is a passionate film based on EL AL flight attendant Miri (Mili Avital) who is compelled, despite the risk, to return her deported housekeeper six-year-old Israeli son nicknamed "Noodle" (Baoqi Chen) to Beijing, China. NOODLE is winner of the 2007 Israeli Film Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress (Anat Waxman).

2007 IFF Special New York Presentation documentary film RABIN-PERES: EVERYTHING IS PERSONAL, directed by Arik Henig was held at the Clearview Cinemas, Wednesday, October 24, 5:15 PM. A special Q&A immediately followed with Director Arik Henig.

RABIN-PERES: EVERYTHING IS PERSONAL is a riveting documentary film based on the relationship between two powerful leaders of Israel, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin (who was assassinated November 4, 1995), and President Shimon Peres.

2007 IFF Special New York Presentation documentary film RABIN-PERES: EVERYTHING
IS PERSONAL, Director Arik Henig, (left), and IFF Founder/Executive Director, Meir Fenigstein.

2007 IFF U.S. premiere documentary film BLACK OVER WHITE: THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT, directed by Tomer Heymann was held at the Clearview Cinemas, Sunday, October 28, 8:15 PM. A special Ethiopian/Yemenite musical performance by Idan Raichel and Q&A with Director Tomer Heymann immediately followed.

BLACK OVER WHITE: THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT is an inspiring musical documentary film based on the Ethiopian Jews in Israel and Ethiopia. The powerful spiritual songs by Idan Raichel and his band, offers a message of love and the sense of longing for home (Israel).

2007 IFF U.S. Premiere musical documentary film
BLACK OVER WHITE: THE IDAN RAICHEL PROJECT,
Director Tomer Heymann, (right), and Actor/Performing
Artist Idan Raichel.

2007 IFF Filmmakers panel discussion was held at the Clearview Cinemas, Sunday, October 28, 9:00 PM. The filmmakers introduced their films and discussed the state of Israeli Cinema.

2007 IFF Filmmakers panel discussion, panelist, Director Shlomo
Hazan, FILM FANATIC.

2007 IFF Closing Night U.S. premiere feature film AVIVA MY LOVE, directed by Shemi Zarhin was held at the Clearview Cinemas, Thursday, November 8, 7:30 PM. 2007 IFF Closing Night Awards Ceremony preceded the U.S. premiere feature film.

AVIVA MY LOVE is a compelling story about the life of Aviva (Asi Levi) a working class housewife, mother of three children, living with her unemployed husband in Tiberias, Israel, who aspires to become a writer. The numerous sold-out screenings at 2007 IFF in New York City was astonishing.

AVIVA MY LOVE is winner of the 2006 Israeli Film Academy Awards for Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Editing.