ISRAEL – - 2005 35 MM, COLOUR LENGTH 83 MINUTES

PRODUCED WITH FUNDS FROM THE PROVINCE OF , OWN RESOURCES OF CINECRAFT GMBH, SK-FILM GMBH, MICHAEL PFEIFENBERGER

in corporation with BEN GURION UNIVERSITY/ CENTER FOR GERMAN STUDIES and TEACHERS COLLEGE of TECHNOLOGY - Tel Aviv

AUSTRIAN DISTRIBUTION: CINECRAFT GMBH Endresstrasse 18 A-1230 WIEN +43-1-88-90-799

CONTACT: CINECRAFT Gmbh Endresstr. 18 A-1230 WIEN +43-1-889-07-99 www.cinecraft.at

SK- FILM Gmbh Salzachstr. 15 A A-5026 Salzburg +43 662 62 59 69 FESTIVALS

International Film Festival Damaskus, Syria

European Dream 06 Festival New York

40. Internationale Hofer Filmtage 06

Biberacher Filmfestspiele 2006

Diagonale 06

Int. Filmfestival Istanbul 2005 – „East meets West“

World Jewish Eye Filmfestival Israel 2005

International Filmfestival Warszawa - "Jewish motifes

12. International Filmfestival Kolkata

to be under way documentaryfilmproject by the Austrian cultureforum in Madrid spring 2008 Toronto Hot Docs Documentary Festival Hong Kong International Film Festival Seattle International Film Festival SHORT SYNOPSIS

LEILA & LENA tells the story of a young female Russian immigrant and a young female Bedouin living in Israel. The two women meet while studying at the Film High School and become friends – despite religious and political barriers. They are constantly underway with their Digi-Cam and work together on a film which will form the final thesis of their studies. While working on the film they are constantly confronted with pictures from their own history. With their totally different views of the world, the two girlfriends use settings in the Israeli Negev Desert, in Beer Sheva, on the West Bank as well as in Rahat and on the Dead Sea to show that there is another way of solving conflicts.

LEILA & LENA’s naturalness presents a picture of self-confident youth capable of reaching consensus.

LEILA & LENA

Jews and Moslems study together at the university in the desert city of Beer Sheva. LEILA & LENA also study there. They are exactly what one imagines a contrast to be: black and white; large and small; religious and secular; mischievous and calmly reserved. LEILA always thought that a meeting with „Russians“ would, quite literally, be the death of her. It does not take long for LENA to free LEILA of her ethnic prejudice. From that moment on they are inseparable and the best of friends.

During the course of their work on the film, LENA discovers that her older brother disappeared under mysterious circumstances a long time before and the family refuses to speak about it.

ABI, an Israeli soldier and LENA’s boyfriend, is injured in a serious bomb attack. He survives through a twist of fate and lies wounded in the military hospital. LENA is as much in love as she is distraught and misses her lover very much.

LEILA is also the complete opposite to LENA when it comes to affairs of the heart. She changes her male friends as often as nomads change their camp sites. She is a good counsellor for the young Jewish woman on the subject of love until she herself falls head over heels in love with a mysterious stranger who turns up at Beer Sheva railway-station when Leila is leaving for Germany. The mysterious stranger subsequently brings total confusion to the lives of the protagonists. LEILA

Approx. 23 years old. She is not sure exactly how old she really is. Her family originally came from the Teneree` in the Negev (an old nomadic route) and, as a result of a government programme, they became “settled” on the outskirts of Beer Sheva. LEILA grew up with nature and learned to value the simple things in life like water, for example. Leila is a practising Moslem and goes to the Mosque regularly where women discuss a „contemporary“ interpretation of the Koran. Her mother died at an bomb attack and she lives alone with her father and grandfather. Leila is particularly proud of the fact that she has managed to study because in her cultural circle it was, or is, unthinkable that women should study. She enjoys being independent.

Rather tongue-in-cheek, Lena calls Leila an "eco-kosher Moslem".

LENA

22 years old. Born in Minsk. She is the daughter of Russian immigrants.

She is a lively person and is against a new staging of the victim/perpetrator trauma. Lena campaigns for „Never Forget“ and for a respectful discussion of the past, the Shoa. Although Lena grew up in a religious family, she lives her life without religion. Nevertheless it is not unusual for her to fast on „Passover“. Their penchant for the Mysteries and their love for the medium of film are just some of the things she has in common with Leila.

Lena is an alert inhabitant of two worlds. "I live in two worlds, the difference is great. I love both".

PRESS / REACTIONS / EXCERPTS

Jewish Film Week

Leila and Lena are two self-confident young women who could not be more different. Leila is a Bedouin. Lena was born in Minsk. Both live in

Israel. Abraham’s granddaughters: Women who courageously show that overcoming intercultural barriers is not an illusion despite inner walls and external fences.... STAB

Director: Michael Pfeifenberger

Script: Michael Pfeifenberger

Production: Felix R. Giuliani, Josef Koschier

Camera: Christian Giesser

Sound: Itai Elohav

Edit: Dominik Weiser

Music: Sinichkin, Muhamad Abu Ajaj, Des Voix Des Deserts, Tomer Lenzinger

Production Design: Christoph Birkner, Naama Yuval

Costume: Christoph Birkner

Head of Production: Michael Donhauser Erhard Forster CAST

Olga Rina Titov LENA

Hila Madhala LEILA

Adib Jahshan FATHER OF LEILA

Sasha Israel Demidov FATHER OF LENA

Natalia Votolevich - Manor MOTHER OF LENA

Tarek Qypti GRANDFAHTER OF LEILA

Shay Barmeli AVI

Slavik Buganov JAKOV

Moussa Zhalka IMAM

Vera Apfelthaler PROFESSOR

Auda El Koran FRIEND OF GRANDPA DIRECTOR – STATEMENT

LEILA & LENA is a film about extraordinary women. Starting as a documentary- like review of the friends´ everyday life, it gradually develops into a “parable on intercultural dialogue”. The emphasis and colour of the film is “inter”cultural not “multi”cultural.

The Negev. Every now and again one sees a tarpaulin camp when one crosses the Negev on Route Nr. 40. The reclamation of the desert has caused the nomads to live in monotonous stone settlements although some Bedouins still live a nomadic life in the desert.

It is intended that the impressionist narrative style of the film should bring out coherent details that demonstrate the possibility of a co-existence that goes beyond deadlocked differences. LENA & LEILA have long since outgrown the generation that screams for revenge.

The young men of the Israeli army are often portrayed in the media as aggressors and oppressors. As in any military conflict, young people are misused for propaganda purposes. By all sides. On another level the film is also intended to promote a greater understanding for Israel’s security needs. The Middle East Conflict is extremely complex and in Europe it is all too often used to generate resentment against Semites. Robert Schindel on the subject in the Kurier Newspaper interview on 23. Nov.03: "...In addition it is the case that anti-Semitism is becoming more audacious, particularly in Germany and Austria. ...This anti-Semitism is the hatred of Israel and all who support Israel – Jews in the Diaspora. A modern anti-Semite can express justified criticism of Israel and has the feeling nothing will happen to him, because it has nothing to do with Auschwitz. ...Conversely allies of Israel must be careful not to demonise justified criticism of Israeli politics."

The story of LEILA & LENA is an unsentimental one. The film goes beyond a documentary-like review. It also goes beyond the so-called “Middle East Conflict”. LEILA & LENA gives the situation a human and metaphorical perspective. Michael Pfeifenberger, born 10.04.1965 in Zederhaus/Salzburg

Collaboration by numerous inter-national cinema and TV productions as Director’s Assistant, Production Manager, Head of Production and Executive Producer Independent Film Maker since 1995

Selected Filmography

"Chaltura - Leila & Lena" (2005 Israel/A, Road-Movie, 35 mm, Completed for cinema.: April 05)

Festivals Int. Filmfest Warszawa World Jewish Eye

“011 Beograd” (2002/03 A/Serbia, Youth drama, Novotny & Novotny Filmprod./ Monte - Royal – Pictures - International, 35 mm, 85 Min. Kino) FESTIVALS Nominated for the Max-Ophüls-Prize 03 Saarbrücken, Diagonale of Austrian Film Graz 03, 33. International Film Festival Lakow / Poland, International Film Festival Dresden, International Film Festival Cairo, International Film Festival Bratislava (Fipresci) 03, "Austrian Film Series" Milan, International Film Festival Zagreb, International Film Festival Suraba (Java) 04, Balkan Black Box Festival Berlin 04 - Festival of independent Film Southeast Europe, "Festival of European Film" - Ramallah 04, Invitation from the Austrian Cutural Forum Tel Aviv: Cinematheken Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem, Nazareth. Cinema release A/D Sept. 2003, Polyfilm / Cinema release Serb. Sept. 2004, Monte-Royal - Pictures Int.

“Thanksgivin – Die nachtblaue Stadt” (Psycho-Drama, A/D 2000, 35mm, 98 min) FESTIVALS Internationale Filmtage Bozen, International Film Festival Kiev “Molodist”, Berlinale (European Film Market), Hofer Filmtage, International Film Festival Fort Lauderdale (Florida), Anthology FilmArchive New York « Austrian Film Series », International Film Festival Pyongyang « peace & friendship » (Korea), Diagonale of Austrian Film Graz 02, Biberacher Film Festival 03 - Festival of German Directors.

Invitation from the Austrian Cultural Forum: Cinematheken in New York, Milan, Tel Aviv, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Cinema release A, Sept. 2001, Topfilm Distribution

“Alles werden gut” (A 1997, 35 mm, 25 min. short psychodrama) FESTIVALS: Max-Ophüls-Prize, Saarbrücken, International Film Festival Aix-en- Provence

“That’s all Johnny” (A 1996, 35 mm, 15 min. short-drama) FESTIVALS: Max-Ophüls-Prize, Saarbrücken, Film Festival Paris

“Stanley” (A 1995, 35 mm, 10 min. short-thriller),

"0n the lake“, "Molotov" and other 8 mm, MTV music clips

Other: "Film maker in Residence 04" Israel, at the Ben Gurion University Tel Aviv, Beer Sheva, Sderot: for several months head of workshops, seminars for film students and guest at various film discussions with Israeli film makers.

Work in progress: “Natura Morta – A Novella set in Rome” by Josef Winkler, (35 mm, Kino) Christian Giesser aac. – born 14.08 1961 in

1980/82 Volunteer at the legendary Schönbrunn Film, fetching coffee and making a first contact to film with the project ”Ringstrassenpalais” - Film copying work – 2nd Assistant on the cinema film „Morgengrauen“

1984/85 Assisted on the cinema films „Die toten Fische“ and „Jack Unterweger“

Since 1987 Cameraman

Jolly Joker Magazine with Gregor von Rezzori / various music videos / Ca. 50 TV & cinema spots / GUSTAV KLIMT – Attersee paintings / RUDOLF HAUSNER / China SHAOLIN – Monks / Travel reports from OMAN - NEPAL

Cinema Films: THE THREE MUSKETEERS 2nd Unit Camera Operator – collaborator ALL THE QUEENS MEN 2nd Unit Camera Operator – collaborator

Experimental Films: JOGGING / TIMAU / WARS / AUTOMATIC / ROSA COELI

Directed television and industrial films:

Videos about Vienna’s districts– Essays / Lifestyle magazine – Lebensträume / IBM Porsche Austria / 20 Years VOR / P.S.K. / Raiffeisen TV Spot / ÖBV Cinema & TV Spot etc.

Since 1996 collaboration with Michael Pfeifenberger

Cinema Films: ALLES WERDEN GUT / THANKSGIVIN / 011 BEOGRAD / LEILA und LENA etc., etc. Hila Madhala - LEILA

Hila Madhala started her career training in radio and speech in Tel Aviv (1999) and the studying Jewish History at Sapir College (2000)

Graduate of Acting and Directing at the National Theatre – Tel Aviv – Rehovot (1999 – 2003)

Voluntary work with the „Mirror Project“, a worldwide association of Jewish students:

A project which links students in Israel and around the world in a forum to discuss subjects such as, for example: the Jewish Identity, the Israeli Experience, as well as religious and secular topics.

Since 2002 small roles in the Theatre Tel Aviv and at the City Theatre in Jaffa

Theatre project in the prison at Be`er Sheva (2004) A project produced and performed by prisoners and volunteers: „The Threepenny Opera“ Brecht/Weil

Film: Leila & Lena (2004) Olga Rina Titov - LENA

Olga Rina Titov, born 21.01.1976 in Russia

Her talent as an actress was discovered in the UDSSR when the first contact with the theatre was made on the stage of the grammar school

After her immigration to Israel there followed studies at Haifa University Philosophy of Science 1996 – 1999

1999 – 2000 attended the Hilel Neman Acting Class in Tel Aviv and had roles in the City Theatre of Tel Aviv

2000 – 2001 training at the noted Sharon Alexander Film and TV Faculty of Arts in Ramat Aviv.

Consistent with this training and a passion for acting there are a few engagements worthy of mention:

Theatre: Abrakadabra - Jerusalem Museum (2001)

TV & Film: The good companions, drama 6 chanel (1999-2001) Suffering, zoom 2 Chanel (2000) The magic cave of Kalustro (2000) Free cool, chanel 3, (2001 - 2000) Night without Lola, television movie (2001) The Prosector (2001) What a wonderful place (2003) Leila & Lena (2004) Israel (Sasha) Demidov - FATHER OF LENA

Born in Tashkent, in the former UDSSR. After finishing his studies as an engineer, he studied the Faculty for Acting and Directing in Moscow.

Having graduated, he was invited to perform at the „Maikovski Theater“.

Following his emigration to Israel in 1990, he went to the „Gesher Theater“, where he has since been a permanent member of the ensemble. Here is a brief list of his roles: Alfred in „Rozenkerntz and Gildensthern are dead“, Michell in „The Driphos trail“, Luei The 14th in “Mollier”, Mishkin in “The Idiot”, Klien in “Son of a Dog”, Barron in “In the low Tide”, Tartiff in “Tartiff”, Yossi in Village”, Alfred the angel, Solomonechick Tretkovski and Makrenco der Krüppel in “City of Odisa stories”, Prozorov Adrey Sargievich in “Three Sisters“; Portov Sergey Srigaich in “The River”; Inspector Isodoro in Ocean”, and Mr.Brink in “Mr. Brink”. The Maestro in “Devil in Moscow”; Machet in “Summer nights dream”, Yaakov in “The Slave”.

He has appeared in many TV series and shows: „Florentin“, „Thunder Cats“, by Irit Linor, „Hello Pnina“ by Tzvika Godal ect.

He has also had his own show: “Sasha´s Freunde“. In the cinema: „Sacred Carla“, „Scar“, „Seven“, „Leila & Lena“ (2004).

During his appearances in Manchester, he was hailed by the press as the Best Guest Performer in the play “The Idiot“. In 1995 he won the Art Prize (named after Gutliv Bene Rozenblum), the Theatre Prize (named after Hadassa and Rephael Kelchkin), and in 1996 he won the Israeli Theatre Prize as „Actor of the Year“ for his role as Yossi in the play „Village“. Natalia Votolevich - Manor - MOTHER OF LENA

Graduate of the University for Justice in Baolinosvesk (1980), and the Faculty for Directing and Performing at the Institute of the Arts in Moscow (1990).

Studied at the National Film Institute in Moscow (1983), and at the National Theatre, Music- and Film-Institute of the Acting School in Bellingrad (1984).

From 1987-1990 she acted in the „Maikovski Theater“ in Moskau.

Her accomplishments on the stage were rewarded with the Gold Medal of the Russian Theatre. 1990 she followed the director, Yivgeni Arye and emigrated to Israel and was one of the founders of the Gesher Theaters (1991)

Since then she has appeared in almost all the leading roles in the plays performed by the theatre:

Queen Gertrud in „Rosenkreutz and Gildenstern are dead“, Madlen Bazzar in „Mollier veranstaltet die Prüderei“, Xena in „Der Driphos Fall“, Mrs Fine in“ Son of a Dog“, Nastasia Flipobona in „The Idiot“, Elmir in „Tartiff“, Irena and Margaritta Procofibena in „Stadt der Odisa Geschichte“, Olga in „Three Sisters“, Charitta Ignatievna in „The River“.

Cinema: “Leila & Lena” (2004) Adib Jahshan - FATHER OF LEILA

Born in 1943 in Haifa, married and father to three daughters.

Education: 1964- 1967 Graduated from the theater academy "Bet-Zvi" in Tel-Aviv.

1991- 1992 Graduated from "LAMDA": London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in England.

Theatre: 1967- 1977 Established and managed the first Arabic theatre, "Elnahed" (The raising Arab theater) in Haifa. 1974- 1997 Established and directed the moveable theatre "El-Jawal". 1994 Established the first Arab theatre festival and was its artistic director. 1998 Establisher and artistic director of the Arabic theatre "Elsaraya" in Jaffa. The theatre works with the "Local Theatre" and both theaters join hands under the name "Arab- Hebrew Theatre" in Jaffa.

Directing and acting works in theatres: "In the zone" by Ugin Onil ; "The Storm" by Mahmoud Diab ;"Romulus the Great" by Fredric Dornmat; "Blood note" by Atel Fugared ; "The Subject was Roses" by Frank Di Gilroi ; "Elfarafir" by Dr. Yousef Edris ; "Loqa Ben Loqa" by Emil Habibi ; "Craps last tape" by Becket ; "Memory" by Salman Nature ; "Return to Haifa" by Gassan Kanafani ; "Cloudy Moon" Based on "Waiting for Godo", and others.

Films: Played in the TV films "Braids"; "halleluiah" and in cinema films "Behind the Walls"; "Fictitious Marriage"; "The Trumpt in the Vally"; "Jaffa wants to live" and "Night how long are you"; “Leila & Lena” (2004). Cinecraft Gmbh

Die Fackel (The Torch), founded on 1. 4. 1899 by Karl Kraus, became and important forum for a critical approach to culture, ideology and language. The newspaper fought against the brutalisation of language through journalism and campaigned for purity and clarity in all forms of art.

Cinecraft Film, TV & Video Production was founded on 1.4.1998 by Felix R. Giuliani and Christian Giesser, exactly 101 years later.

Through certain affinities, and the approach to purity and clarity, Cinecraft has made, and continues to make, interesting documentaries: Warst du , Die Steinspur - Karl Prantl, Wolfgang Hollegha - Der Komponist der Bewegung ......

The intention to establish a platform for creative film making began to broaden more and more. The participation in ideas and a large amount of idealism, seduced us into the passion for feature films.

In the same way Cinecraft’s spectrum has been supplemented by television productions, which have attained an equal significance in company policy.

In the future, short films and experimental films will be integrated as a self- contained project. This will challenge all contributors to realise an idea spontaneously using the available resources.

The long standing friendship and collaboration with the director, Michael Pfeifenberger is a symbiosis, out of which came Leila and Lena – a made for cinema movie completed in 2005. Leila and Lena is a further step in independence for cultural Israel as well as for Cinecraft.

A further cinema project is in the pipeline: „Häuptling der Alpen“ by Wolfgang Bauer. SK - Film – JOSEF KOSCHIER

Born in 1946 in Dorfgastein, Salzburg. He has been active in the film and television field since 1968 - up to 1978 as Production Manager, since 1979 as Head of Production and Executive Producer. 1990 founding of SK-Film.

1990 Ilona & Kurti, feature, director Reinhard Schwabenitzky Ernst Lubitsch Award, Austrian Film Award

1993 You’re driving me crazy (Du bringst mich noch um), feature, director Wolfram Paulus, Venice – „eventi speziali“, Hof

1995 El Chicko, feature, director David Rühm Saarbrücken Max Ophüls, Femina award

Little Kids, big trouble (Ein Rucksack voller Lügen) feature Director Wolfram Paulus

1996 Clarissa, TV-movie F/D/A based on a novel by Stefan Zweig Director Jacques Deray. Golden Screen Downhill (Rennlauf) TV-movie, director Wolfram Paulus

1997 Treasure from heaven (Der Schatz, der vom Himmel fiel) feature, A/TR, director Wolfram Paulus

1998 Professor Niedlich, feature, director Lukas Stepanik

1999 Lettre d’ un femme unconnue (Brief einer un bekannten) based on the novel of Stefan Zweig, TV-movie F/D/A, director Jacques Deray

2000 Mademoiselle Else (Fräulein Else) based on a novel by Artur Schnitzler, TV-movie F/D/A, director Pierre Boutron

2001 For all eternity (Am anderen Ende der Brücke) feature China/A

2002 director Hu Mei, Moscow “silver arrow”, Diagonale “best innovated production, Bolzano “audience award”, Belize “audience award”

2003 Bauernprinzessin, TV-movie A/D, director Susanne Zanke

2004 Chaltura – Leila and Lena, feature, Israel/A, director: Michael Pfeifenberger SPECIAL THANKS TO

Ben Segenreich/ORF-Korrespondenz Israel, Martin Gärtner/Österreichisches Kulturforum Tel Aviv, Mario Vielgrader/Österreichisches Kulturforum Tel Aviv, Cederic Parizot/Ambassade de France en Israel, Noah Shuval, Al-Saraya/Arab Theatre Jaffa, Majlinda Cullhaj, Naty/Secretary Teachers College T.A., Costa/Master of Film Equipment/Teachers College T.A., Amnon Yosef/City Beer of Sheva, Faye Bittker/Ben Gurion University – Dept. of public Affairs, Ben Gurion University – Pressphotographer, Family of Abdel Karim Ataika, Family of Aamer Abu Hani, Family of Saba Abu Adra, Family of Talal Afenish, Dr. Aamer el Hazel/Regional Council of unrecognized villages of the Negev, Bedouine Community of Rahat, Muhamad Abu Ajaj, Yuvall Payes – First Exposure, Dorion, Camilla Rubin, Agency Levia Hon, Agency Perry Kafri, Katri Shory, Gabi Tark/Kibbuz Ein Gedi, Orna Goren – Joe Alon-Center/Museum of Bedouine Culture, National Park Ressort Ein Gedi, En Avdat, The Bedouines around Arad, Gilbert Petutuschnig, Paul & Meridee Stein, Imam of Rahat, Beit Yaziv, Restaurant “Halperin”, Club Natasha, DJ Arie Raichel, Shay of Pressagency Susanna Pirker/Vienna, Juraczka Film & TV /Vienna, Hillel Tryster/Spielberg Archive Tel Aviv, Dokumentationsarchiv des österreichischen Widerstandes, Guido Bruck/Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Yuval Bagno – the good spirit of the movi Amt der Salzburger Landesregierung/Kulturabteilung, Dr. Monika Kalista, Dr. Sivester Schröger

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