Press Releases

May 3, 2011 - NEW YORK

TO:  ALL NEWS & PHOTO ASSIGNMENT EDITORS

FROM:  GARY SPRINGER / ANNE TAKAHASHI

RE:  AWARDS & OPENING EVENT – 25TH ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL – MAY 5, 2011

WHO:  LIEV SCHREIBER (2011 IFF Outstanding Achievement in Film Award Honoree), NAOMI WATTS; STANLEY DONEN (2011 IFF Lifetime Achievement Award Honoree); MICHA SHAGRIR (2011 IFF Cinematic Achievement Award Honoree); JONATHAN SAFRAN FOER (Author, Liev Schreiber presenter); PHIL DONAHUE (TV Personality, Stanley Donen presenter); MIRA TZUR (Actress/Producer, presenting to Micha Shagrir); TOVAH FELDSHUH (Actress, Co-Emcee); MIKE BURSTYN (Actor, Co-Emcee – he did the first IFF 25 years ago!); ORLY SILBERSATZ BANAI (Actress, Star of Opening Night Film, Intimate Grammar); IGAAL NIDDAM (Director, Brothers); ADAM SANDERSON (Director, This Is Sodom); JORGE WELLER (Director, Salsa Tel Aviv); ROI WARNER (Director, 2 Night); DAN WOLMAN (Director, Gei Oni); ESTEE MECKELBERG (Producer, Land Of Genesis); SHLOMI ELDAR (Director, Precious Life); KIRK SIMON & KAREN GOODMAN (Directors, 2010 Academy Award-Winning Strangers No More); CONSUL GENERAL IDO AHARONI (Consul General of Israel in NY); MEIR FENIGSTEIN (Founder & Executive Director, Israel Film Festival)

WHEN/WHERE:  Thursday, May 5, 2011
5:30pm-7:30pm – VIP RECEPTION, RED CARPET PHOTO OPPORTUNIITY – The Plaza Hotel, The Edwardian Room (768 5th Ave. at 59th St.)
7:30pm-8:30pm – 25th ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS PRESENTATION – The Paris Theatre (4 W. 58th St)
Screening of INTIMATE GRAMMAR to follow Awards Presentation

Enriching the American vision of Israeli life and culture through the powerful medium of film, the Israel Film Festival has definitively become the largest showcase of Israeli films in the United States.  2011 marks the 25th anniversary of this much-acclaimed showcase that celebrates Israeli cinema in the United States.  The 2011 Israel Film Festival will begin its milestone anniversary year with a VIP Reception in the Edwardian Room of the Plaza Hotel, and then the participants will segue to the adjacent Paris Theatre for the Awards presentation and Opening Night Film.  The 25th Israel Film Festival is proud to honor Actor Liev Schreiber, 2011 IFF Outstanding Achievement In Film Award; legendary film director and choreographer Stanley Donen will be honored with the IFF Lifetime Achievement Award; and celebrated Producer/Director Micha Shagrir with the 2011 IFF Cinematic Achievement Award.

The Opening Night film is the New York premiere of Nir Bergman’s acclaimed film INTIMATE GRAMMAR, which recently won the Best Feature Film Award from the Jerusalem International Film Festival as well as the Sakura Grand Prix from the Tokyo International Film Festival (Mr. Bergman’s second Sakura Prize!).

Encompassing over 30 titles, including award-winning features, documentaries and television programs, the Festival opens Thursday, May 5 at Paris Theatre, and continues through May 19, 2011 at the AMC Loews 84th Street 6 (2310 Broadway).

In the last two and a half decades, the Festival has presented more than 800 feature films, documentaries, television dramas and short films to over 900,000 filmgoers and brought hundreds of Israeli filmmakers to the U.S. to share their art.  The Israel Film Festival is produced by IsraFest Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization created in 1982.  The 25th Anniversary festival is presented in association with the Government of Israel, Consulate General of Israel in New York, Israel Film Fund, Ministry of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs, Highbrow, Rabinovich Foundation-Cinema Project, and sponsored in part by Bank Leumi USA, New York Post, Nu Image/Millennium Films, Panavision, Cheryl and Haim Saban, Israel Bonds, El Al Airlines, Carmel Car & Limo, and other corporations, organizations and individuals who believe in the importance of promoting Israeli culture in the USA.

The Festival’s mission is to showcase the finest new Israeli films in order to share with American audiences the country’s rich culture, diverse stories and modern Israeli life.  The 25th IFF NY Festival Chairman is Ronald S. Guttman; The Honorary Committee includes Honorary Chairman Arnon Milchan, and Avi Arad, Mark Canton, Gil Cates, Michael Douglas, Richard Dreyfuss, Meyer Gottlieb, Dustin Hoffman, Lainie Kazan, Penny Marshall, David Matalon, Mike Medavoy, Bette Midler, Rob Reiner, Jane Rosenthal, Terry Semel, Nina Tassler, and many others.  Proceeds from the Gala Opening Night event will provide funds to support the IsraFest Foundation and scholarship funds at the top six film schools in Israel.

For All Press & Interview Inquiries, art, screeners, and more information, contact:
Gary Springer or Anne Takahashi, Springer Associates PR, 212-354-4660
Gary Springer mobile 914-659-4802
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For More information on the 25th IFF please visit
http://www.israelfilmfestival.com