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Stephanie RONNETStephanie Ronnet is a regular contributor to Filmfestivals.com, she is based in Los Angeles, Montreal and Paris. Interview of MEIR FENIGSTEIN, Founder of the Israel Film Festival in the USA by Stephanie RonnetStacey Keach - M Fenigstein On April 18th, Los Angeles had an Israeli flavor as the 27th edition of the Israel Film Festival kicked off. The festivities were in full swing. The audience was treated to a plentiful buffet, before walking in the theater of the WGA. The opening film was The Ballad of The Weeping Spring, an emotional drama that won 4 Israeli Oscars (Ophir Awards) in 2012: Best Original Music, Best Original Soundtrack, Best Production design, and Best Costume design. It screened in a full house where Hebrew, Spanish, English and French could be heard. Los Angeles celebrates the richness of the Israeli production until May 2nd. The Festival’s founder, Meir Fenigstein, was all over the place as usual, as he greeted the celebs and the Israeli filmmakers. I interviewed Fenigstein in 2007, and felt like it was about time to go meet him again, and get the « lowdown » on the oustanding evolution of the Israeli cinema. Meir Fenigstein has a juvenile enthusiasm and a merry demeanor when he speaks about his festival, Hollywood and Israeli films…
Stephanie RONNET : Meir Fenigstein, can you talk about the identity of the Israeli cinema? SR: How would you describe the noticeable evolution in the Israeli production? SR: In an article on The The Ballad of the Weeping Spring, I read: if not for the spoken Hebrew, one might never know it's Israeli. SR: Is the audience more diverse than it used to be? Has the Festival attracted a new audience over the years? SR: This year for the first time there’s a special program entitled « Second Generation Holocaust Survivors » and showing the documentary « Numbered ». Why didn’t it happen before ? and what drove you to have this tribute now ? SR : What is the purpose of your festival for both the filmmakers and the filmgoers? From the audience perspective, the festival shows such distinct films over the course of 2 weeks, that you get to see the face of the Israeli society and how diverse it is. It’s truly an exceptional opportunity for the public to learn about the Israeli culture, and discover the Israeli population in a unique way. SR: Can you describe the process of putting on a festival like this, especially one that lasts 2 weeks ? SR : This year Sherry Lansing, Martin Landau and Uri Gavriel will be honored, how do you choose your honorees? When it comes to Sherry Lansing, I can share a little anecdote – 25 years ago, I was living in NY, and I started the Israel Film Festival there. I I asked her to join our honorary committee or be a co-chair, something like that… she answered that she was going to be in NY and invited me to come meet her. As I arrived at the address she gave me, I realized that there was a film shoot taking place. So I go up to the 6th floor, I see Michael Douglas and start wondering “what’s going on here? What am I doing here?” And suddenly Sherry Lansing shows up and says “I’m sorry, I’m in the middle of a shoot, what is it exactly that you want?”. My tongue was stuck you know. I didn’t know what to say. So I replied “I just wanted to know if you want to be on the committee, if you want to be a co-chair”; she said “Listen, I’m going to Japan, and whenever I get my name attached, I usually get very involved. So, it’s better to contact me next year, when the film is finished and I’m done promoting it, maybe I will do something”. This is all very exciting. http://www.israelfilmfestival.com Stephanie Ronnet
20.04.2013 | Stephanie RONNET's blog Cat. : israel Israeli artist Israeli director Martin Landau Meir Fenigstein Rock the Casbah ronnet Sherry Lansing Stephanie Ronnet Uri Gavriel FESTIVALS
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