ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL BOOKLET 4/19/06 1:48 PM Page 1

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL 2006 26 - 30 APRIL @ CATHAY CINEPLEX ORCHARD

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 26 APRIL 27 APRIL 28 APRIL 29 APRIL 30 APRIL 3:50pm Israeli Ushpizin (The Guests)

4:20pm Broken Wings Film Festival 2006 5:15pm 5:15pm 5:40pm The Syrian Bride Ushpizin (The Guests) 39 Pounds Of Love

6:10pm James’ Journey To Jerusalem

7:30pm 7:10pm Ushpizin (The Guests) Turn Left At The End (By Invitation Only) Of The World 8:00pm 39 Pounds Of Love

9:30pm 9:30pm 9:30pm 9:20pm James’ Journey Turn Left At The End The Syrian Bride Broken Wings To Jerusalem Of The World

All with Rating Film Title English subtitles Runtime (Consumer Advice) Details On Opening Film: Ushpizin (The Guests) Yiddish, Hebrew 90 minsPG Page 3

39 Pounds Of Love English, Hebrew, Spanish 70 minsPG Page 4

Broken Wings Hebrew 84 minsPG Page 4 James’ Journey PG To Jerusalem Hebrew, English, Zulu 87 mins Page 5

Arabic, English, Hebrew, PG The Syrian Bride Russian, French 97 mins Page 5 R21 (Sexual Content) Turn Left At The End of The World Hebrew, English, French 110 mins Page 6 Celebrate Love & Life with Israel Tickets on sale from 20 April 2006 at the box office (Cathay Cineleisure Orchard), over the internet (tickets.cathay.com.sg) and on Cathay Movie Line (6235 1155). 26 - 30 April Regular ticket: $10. Concession ticket: $9 - Valid only for students and Singapore Film Society (SFS) members and available only at the box office upon presentation of valid student / SFS membership cards. Admission for concession ticket holders Cathay Cineplex Orchard subject to verification at usher point of valid student / SFS membership cards. No refunds shall be given in the event that admission is rejected due to inability to produce the relevant identification.

Composite ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL BOOKLET 4/19/06 1:48 PM Page 2

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Israeli Film Festival Festival Organiser: Singapore 2006

Dear Friends, I would like to wish you a warm welcome to the Israeli Film Festival Festival SUPPORTER: in Singapore, 2006. The beginning of the new millenium has opened a new era and, indeed, a new renaissance in the history of the Israel film industry, both in the fields of feature films and documentaries. Festival Venue: This renaissance can be characterised by two phenomena. The first is the transformation of the film industry, from intensively dealing with political issues to social-economic issues that tend to put the individual at the focal point of the films. The other transformation was the emergence of cable television which "supplied" the film industry with many more resources. Festival SPONSORS: The Israeli Film Festival in Singapore gives the film-goers just one aspect among the very wide, rich, diverse and colourful spectrum of the art and culture in Israel. The Israeli audience is considered to be one of the biggest "consumers" of theatre, music, dance, the fine arts and literature in the world. The art and culture in Israel reflects, above all, the vibrant Israeli society - a society of immigrants that have arrived from more than 80 countries and brought with them a variety of traditions, languages and skills in the arts. It is a society that combines east and west, north and south, tradition and modernity. This Israeli Film Festival invites you to join in this fascinating adventure of Israeli culture. I wish you an interesting and challenging experience.

Ilan Ben-Dov Ambassador of Israel

Composite ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL BOOKLET 4/19/06 1:48 PM Page 3

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Title : Turn Left At The End Of The World (2003) OPENING FILM 28 April (Fri) 9:30pm, 30 April (Sun) 7:10pm Director : Avi Neshar USHPIZIN Cast : Neta Garty, Liraz Charchi, Aure Atika, Jean Benguigui, (THE GUESTS) (2005) Parmeet Sethi, Kruttika Desai 26 April (Wed) 7:30pm (by invitation only) Language : Hebrew, English, French with English subtitles 28 April (Fri) 5:15pm, Runtime : 110 minutes Genre : Drama, Comedy, Romance 30 Apr (Sun) 3:50pm Rating : R21 Director : Gigi Dar Consumer Cast : Shuli Rand, Ilan Ganani, Advice : Sexual Content Michal Bat, Sheva Rand, Israel, 1969, the peace of a small desert town inhabited mostly by Shaul Mizrahi Israelis originally from North Africa is disturbed when a group of Jewish immigrants from India arrives. Amidst cultural clashes and Language : Yiddish, Hebrew with misunderstandings, the townsfolk takes a shot at putting the forgotten English subtitles watering hole back on the map when a cricket match between the local Runtime : 90 mins Indian cricket team and a professional British one seems destined to take place in town. In the middle of it all are two teenage girls - a local Genre : Drama and a newcomer from India - who develop a close friendship and discover together the colours, the music and the sexual revolution of Rating : PG the late sixties. Awards : Best Art Design, Best Wardrobe Design, Tel Aviv Film Festival 2004

ABOUT THE ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL They worked out of luck, out of hope. Faith was all they could hang on to. But on this holy The Israeli Film Festival is undoubtedly one of the longest running national film festivals in week, where guests are considered a blessing, these two unexpected visitors bring with them a secret from the past, a secret that would test their love and challenge their faith. Now, only Singapore. 2006 marks the 14th year in which the film festival is organized and every film that is a miracle can turn their fortune around. selected, aims to reflect Israel’s unique culture. These movies allow for multicultural interaction and provide an ideal platform for discussion and education and entertainment. The Embassy of Israel (Singapore) brings in the best available films of Israel that promote discussion and a better WINNER WINNER understanding of Israeli and Jewish culture and faith. BEST ACTOR BEST PICTURE Award of the IsrAEli IsrAEli CRITICS AWARD ABOUT CATHAY-KERIS FILMS (FESTIVAL SUPPORTER) Film Academy 2004 & CATHAY CINEPLEXES (FESTIVAL VENUE) Cathay-Keris Films is one of Singapore’s leading distributor of quality films providing a wide variety of exciting theatrical entertainment for audiences in Singapore and Malaysia since the 1960s. This is the first time that the Israeli Film Festival is hosted at Cathay Cineplexes. As the manager of festivals for Cathay Cineplexes, Cathay-Keris Films is pleased to give its best in supporting this festival and is glad to have played a part in putting this year’s festival together.

6 3

Composite ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL BOOKLET 4/19/06 1:48 PM Page 4

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Title : 39 Pounds Of Love (2005) Title : James’ Journey To Jerusalem (2003) 29 April (Sat) 8:00pm, 30 April (Sun) 5:40pm 27 April (Thu) 9:30pm, 29 April (Sat) 6:10pm Director : Dani Menkin Director : Ra’anan Alexandrowicz Cast : Ami Ankilewitz (as Himself) Cast : Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe, Salim Dau, Arue Elias Language : English, Hebrew, Spanish with English subtitles Language : Hebrew, English, Zulu with English subtitles Runtime : 70 mins Runtime : 87 mins Genre : Documentary Genre : Comedy, Drama Rating : PG Rating : PG The inspirational and humorous story of Ami Ankilewitz, a 3-D animator A funny and somewhat sad fairy tale about James, a young man from in Israel whose bodily motion is limited to a single finger on his left an imaginary remote village, who sets out on a pilgrimage to holy hand. At birth, Ami was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular Jerusalem. But Israel in the 21st century is not exactly the biblical holy dystrophy and was predicted to survive only to the age of 6. Now, at land that James imagined. At the airport, James is arrested on suspicion 34, he returns to the United States to confront the doctor who diagnosed of illegal immigration. Inside the dark cell, as James prays to God to his early demise. Along the way, he comes to terms with a major allow him to complete his mission, a miracle happens… a mysterious incident from his past and pursues a lifelong dream: to ride a Harley stranger appears to post bail for him. But it soon becomes clear that Davidson. 39 POUNDS OF LOVE is an emotional roller coaster, a James' freedom has come at a price… fascinating, hilarious and truly inspirational ride through life with someone who embodies the very term, carpe diem (seize the day). Awards : Most Promising Asian Director, New Delhi Film Festival Best Film, Fipresci Award, Oslo Film Festival 2003 Awards : Best Documentary, Israeli Ophir Award 2005 Best Feature, Valencia Film Festival 2003 (Israeli Academy of Film and Television) Best Documentary, Palm Beach Film Festival Title : The Syrian Bride (2004) Best Documentary, Tahoe/Reno Film Festival 27 April (Thu) 5:15pm, 29 April (Sat) 9:30pm Audience Award, Boston Jewish Film Festival Audience Award, Tallgrass Film Festival Director : Eran Riklis Cast : Makram Khoury, Clara Khoury, Hiam Abbass Title : Broken Wings (2002) Language : Arabic, English, Hebrew, Russian, 29 April (Sat) 4:20pm, 30 April (Sun) 9:20pm French with English subtitles Director : Nir Bergman Runtime : 97 minutes Cast : Orli Zilverschatz-Banay, Maya Maron, Nitai Gvirtz, Genre : Comedy, Drama Vladimir Freedman, Dana Ivgy, Danny Niv, Rating : PG Daniel Magon, Eliana Magon Mona’s wedding day is the saddest day of her life. She knows that Language : Hebrew with English subtitles once she crosses the border between Israel and Syria to marry Syrian Runtime : 84 minutes TV star Tallel, she will never be allowed back to her family, ever again. Genre : Drama The story of Mona’s wedding day is a story about physical and emotional Rating : PG divides and the will to cross them. An involving and moving story about the Ulman family – The sudden Awards : Audience Award, Locarno Film Festival 2004 death of the father under trivial circumstances has left the family hurting Best Film, Critics Award, Montreal Film Festival 2004 and in economic straits. Just as the family seems to be on the verge of collapse, a shocking event brings Dafna and her four children together, giving them a chance to heal their broken wings. Awards : Best Film, Tel Aviv Film Festival 2002 Best Film, Tokyo Film Festival 2002 4 Audience Award, Berlin Film Festival 2003 5

Composite ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL BOOKLET 4/19/06 1:48 PM Page 4

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Title : 39 Pounds Of Love (2005) Title : James’ Journey To Jerusalem (2003) 29 April (Sat) 8:00pm, 30 April (Sun) 5:40pm 27 April (Thu) 9:30pm, 29 April (Sat) 6:10pm Director : Dani Menkin Director : Ra’anan Alexandrowicz Cast : Ami Ankilewitz (as Himself) Cast : Siyabonga Melongisi Shibe, Salim Dau, Arue Elias Language : English, Hebrew, Spanish with English subtitles Language : Hebrew, English, Zulu with English subtitles Runtime : 70 mins Runtime : 87 mins Genre : Documentary Genre : Comedy, Drama Rating : PG Rating : PG The inspirational and humorous story of Ami Ankilewitz, a 3-D animator A funny and somewhat sad fairy tale about James, a young man from in Israel whose bodily motion is limited to a single finger on his left an imaginary remote village, who sets out on a pilgrimage to holy hand. At birth, Ami was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular Jerusalem. But Israel in the 21st century is not exactly the biblical holy dystrophy and was predicted to survive only to the age of 6. Now, at land that James imagined. At the airport, James is arrested on suspicion 34, he returns to the United States to confront the doctor who diagnosed of illegal immigration. Inside the dark cell, as James prays to God to his early demise. Along the way, he comes to terms with a major allow him to complete his mission, a miracle happens… a mysterious incident from his past and pursues a lifelong dream: to ride a Harley stranger appears to post bail for him. But it soon becomes clear that Davidson. 39 POUNDS OF LOVE is an emotional roller coaster, a James' freedom has come at a price… fascinating, hilarious and truly inspirational ride through life with someone who embodies the very term, carpe diem (seize the day). Awards : Most Promising Asian Director, New Delhi Film Festival Best Film, Fipresci Award, Oslo Film Festival 2003 Awards : Best Documentary, Israeli Ophir Award 2005 Best Feature, Valencia Film Festival 2003 (Israeli Academy of Film and Television) Best Documentary, Palm Beach Film Festival Title : The Syrian Bride (2004) Best Documentary, Tahoe/Reno Film Festival 27 April (Thu) 5:15pm, 29 April (Sat) 9:30pm Audience Award, Boston Jewish Film Festival Audience Award, Tallgrass Film Festival Director : Eran Riklis Cast : Makram Khoury, Clara Khoury, Hiam Abbass Title : Broken Wings (2002) Language : Arabic, English, Hebrew, Russian, 29 April (Sat) 4:20pm, 30 April (Sun) 9:20pm French with English subtitles Director : Nir Bergman Runtime : 97 minutes Cast : Orli Zilverschatz-Banay, Maya Maron, Nitai Gvirtz, Genre : Comedy, Drama Vladimir Freedman, Dana Ivgy, Danny Niv, Rating : PG Daniel Magon, Eliana Magon Mona’s wedding day is the saddest day of her life. She knows that Language : Hebrew with English subtitles once she crosses the border between Israel and Syria to marry Syrian Runtime : 84 minutes TV star Tallel, she will never be allowed back to her family, ever again. Genre : Drama The story of Mona’s wedding day is a story about physical and emotional Rating : PG divides and the will to cross them. An involving and moving story about the Ulman family – The sudden Awards : Audience Award, Locarno Film Festival 2004 death of the father under trivial circumstances has left the family hurting Best Film, Critics Award, Montreal Film Festival 2004 and in economic straits. Just as the family seems to be on the verge of collapse, a shocking event brings Dafna and her four children together, giving them a chance to heal their broken wings. Awards : Best Film, Tel Aviv Film Festival 2002 Best Film, Tokyo Film Festival 2002 4 Audience Award, Berlin Film Festival 2003 5

Composite ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL BOOKLET 4/19/06 1:48 PM Page 3

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Title : Turn Left At The End Of The World (2003) OPENING FILM 28 April (Fri) 9:30pm, 30 April (Sun) 7:10pm Director : Avi Neshar USHPIZIN Cast : Neta Garty, Liraz Charchi, Aure Atika, Jean Benguigui, (THE GUESTS) (2005) Parmeet Sethi, Kruttika Desai 26 April (Wed) 7:30pm (by invitation only) Language : Hebrew, English, French with English subtitles 28 April (Fri) 5:15pm, Runtime : 110 minutes Genre : Drama, Comedy, Romance 30 Apr (Sun) 3:50pm Rating : R21 Director : Gigi Dar Consumer Cast : Shuli Rand, Ilan Ganani, Advice : Sexual Content Michal Bat, Sheva Rand, Israel, 1969, the peace of a small desert town inhabited mostly by Shaul Mizrahi Israelis originally from North Africa is disturbed when a group of Jewish immigrants from India arrives. Amidst cultural clashes and Language : Yiddish, Hebrew with misunderstandings, the townsfolk takes a shot at putting the forgotten English subtitles watering hole back on the map when a cricket match between the local Runtime : 90 mins Indian cricket team and a professional British one seems destined to take place in town. In the middle of it all are two teenage girls - a local Genre : Drama and a newcomer from India - who develop a close friendship and discover together the colours, the music and the sexual revolution of Rating : PG the late sixties. Awards : Best Art Design, Best Wardrobe Design, Tel Aviv Film Festival 2004

ABOUT THE ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL They worked out of luck, out of hope. Faith was all they could hang on to. But on this holy The Israeli Film Festival is undoubtedly one of the longest running national film festivals in week, where guests are considered a blessing, these two unexpected visitors bring with them a secret from the past, a secret that would test their love and challenge their faith. Now, only Singapore. 2006 marks the 14th year in which the film festival is organized and every film that is a miracle can turn their fortune around. selected, aims to reflect Israel’s unique culture. These movies allow for multicultural interaction and provide an ideal platform for discussion and education and entertainment. The Embassy of Israel (Singapore) brings in the best available films of Israel that promote discussion and a better WINNER WINNER understanding of Israeli and Jewish culture and faith. BEST ACTOR BEST PICTURE Award of the IsrAEli IsrAEli CRITICS AWARD ABOUT CATHAY-KERIS FILMS (FESTIVAL SUPPORTER) Film Academy 2004 & CATHAY CINEPLEXES (FESTIVAL VENUE) Cathay-Keris Films is one of Singapore’s leading distributor of quality films providing a wide variety of exciting theatrical entertainment for audiences in Singapore and Malaysia since the 1960s. This is the first time that the Israeli Film Festival is hosted at Cathay Cineplexes. As the manager of festivals for Cathay Cineplexes, Cathay-Keris Films is pleased to give its best in supporting this festival and is glad to have played a part in putting this year’s festival together.

6 3

Composite ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL BOOKLET 4/19/06 1:48 PM Page 2

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

Israeli Film Festival Festival Organiser: Singapore 2006

Dear Friends, I would like to wish you a warm welcome to the Israeli Film Festival Festival SUPPORTER: in Singapore, 2006. The beginning of the new millenium has opened a new era and, indeed, a new renaissance in the history of the Israel film industry, both in the fields of feature films and documentaries. Festival Venue: This renaissance can be characterised by two phenomena. The first is the transformation of the film industry, from intensively dealing with political issues to social-economic issues that tend to put the individual at the focal point of the films. The other transformation was the emergence of cable television which "supplied" the film industry with many more resources. Festival SPONSORS: The Israeli Film Festival in Singapore gives the film-goers just one aspect among the very wide, rich, diverse and colourful spectrum of the art and culture in Israel. The Israeli audience is considered to be one of the biggest "consumers" of theatre, music, dance, the fine arts and literature in the world. The art and culture in Israel reflects, above all, the vibrant Israeli society - a society of immigrants that have arrived from more than 80 countries and brought with them a variety of traditions, languages and skills in the arts. It is a society that combines east and west, north and south, tradition and modernity. This Israeli Film Festival invites you to join in this fascinating adventure of Israeli culture. I wish you an interesting and challenging experience.

Ilan Ben-Dov Ambassador of Israel

Composite ISRAEL FILM FESTIVAL BOOKLET 4/19/06 1:48 PM Page 1

C M Y CM MY CY CMY K

ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL 2006 26 - 30 APRIL @ CATHAY CINEPLEX ORCHARD

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY 26 APRIL 27 APRIL 28 APRIL 29 APRIL 30 APRIL 3:50pm Israeli Ushpizin (The Guests)

4:20pm Broken Wings Film Festival 2006 5:15pm 5:15pm 5:40pm The Syrian Bride Ushpizin (The Guests) 39 Pounds Of Love

6:10pm James’ Journey To Jerusalem

7:30pm 7:10pm Ushpizin (The Guests) Turn Left At The End (By Invitation Only) Of The World 8:00pm 39 Pounds Of Love

9:30pm 9:30pm 9:30pm 9:20pm James’ Journey Turn Left At The End The Syrian Bride Broken Wings To Jerusalem Of The World

All with Rating Film Title English subtitles Runtime (Consumer Advice) Details On Opening Film: Ushpizin (The Guests) Yiddish, Hebrew 90 minsPG Page 3

39 Pounds Of Love English, Hebrew, Spanish 70 minsPG Page 4

Broken Wings Hebrew 84 minsPG Page 4 James’ Journey PG To Jerusalem Hebrew, English, Zulu 87 mins Page 5

Arabic, English, Hebrew, PG The Syrian Bride Russian, French 97 mins Page 5 R21 (Sexual Content) Turn Left At The End of The World Hebrew, English, French 110 mins Page 6 Celebrate Love & Life with Israel Tickets on sale from 20 April 2006 at the box office (Cathay Cineleisure Orchard), over the internet (tickets.cathay.com.sg) and on Cathay Movie Line (6235 1155). 26 - 30 April Regular ticket: $10. Concession ticket: $9 - Valid only for students and Singapore Film Society (SFS) members and available only at the box office upon presentation of valid student / SFS membership cards. Admission for concession ticket holders Cathay Cineplex Orchard subject to verification at usher point of valid student / SFS membership cards. No refunds shall be given in the event that admission is rejected due to inability to produce the relevant identification.

Composite