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Includes Opening Night Gala Presentation of Doc Ben-Gurion, Epilogue, Winner of Best Documentary, Israeli Academy Ophir Awards

Festival Runs November 5th – 21st

From Ben-Gurion, one of the world’s greatest leaders, to a profile of the first Iraqi-Jewish family to become a household name in Israel, to the history of North African and Eastern European immigrants in Southern Israel, to an understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in human terms and to the story of brotherhood, resilience and hope, five award winning documentaries will screen at the 31st Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles, running November 5th – 21st.

Festival screenings will take place at the Laemmle Ahrya Fine Arts (Beverly Hills), Laemmle Royal Theater (West L.A.) and the Laemmle Town Center 5 (Encino).  The Opening Night film, on November 5th, is Yariv Mozer’s Documentary Ben-Gurion, Epilogue, Winner of the 2017 Israeli Academy Ophir Award for Best Documentary, to be screened at the Saban Theatre.  For further information or to purchase tickets, contact IsraFest Foundation:  310.247.1800 or info@IsraelFilmFestival.org.  Tickets are also available to purchase on the website:   www.IsraelFilmFestival.com

“The Israel Film Festival will highlight the recent best documentary winners of the Ophir Awards (Israel’s equivalent of the Academy Awards) and the Jerusalem Film Festival,” noted Meir Fenigstein, founder/executive director of the Festival.  “These stories of history, triumph and tragedy will 

DOCUMENTARY FILMS:

BEN-GURION, EPILOGUE | בן גוריון, אפילוג
31st IFF OPENING NIGHT GALA PRESENTATION
Dir: Yariv Mozer
Lost for decades, this interview of an 82 year-old David Ben-Gurion reveals the mind and soul of one of modern history's greatest leaders. Interviewed in his desert home, far from the political fray, his deep reflections provide a surprising vision for today's world leaders and for the future of Israel. | 2016, 70 Min
2017 Ofir Awards – Winner Best Documentary
Guest in Attendance: Director Yariv Mozer
Festival Screenings: November 5th/7:30 pm, Saban Theatre (Gala Opening Night); November 13th/7:15 pm, Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre (post Q&A with director); November 16th/9:30 pm, Laemmle Town Center Theatre; November 18th/5:00 pm Laemmle Royal Theatre

DIMONA TWIST | דימונה טוויסט
WEST COAST PREMIERE
Dir: Michal Aviad
Dimona Twist combines conversations and rare archival footage of seven women who came to the desert decades ago. Coming from far regions of the world, they share stories full of humor, fashion and sorrow, facing with dignity their struggles to create a rich and meaningful life in the middle of nowhere. | 2016, 71 Min
2016 Jerusalem Film Festival – Best Israeli Documentary
Festival Screenings: November 11th/5:00 pm, Laemmle Town Center Theatre; November 16th/5:00 pm, Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre

MUHI | מוחי
WEST COAST PREMIERE
Dir: Rina Castelnuovo, Tamir Elterman
For the past seven years Muhi, a brave boy from Gaza and his devoted Muslim grandfather, have been living in an Israeli hospital, unable to return home. Saved by those considered enemies of his people, Muhi’s story transcends identity, religion and the conflict that divides his world. |
2017, 89 Min
2017 Jerusalem Film Festival – Best Documentary
Festival Screenings: November 12th/12:00 pm, Laemmle Royal Theatre; November 20th/5:00 pm, Laemmle Town Center Theatre

PHOTO FARAG | פוטו פרג'
L.A. PREMIERE
Dir: Kobi Farag
A real -life story of the first Iraqi-Jewish family to become a household name in Israel. The Farag family built a hugely successful photography business that revolutionized the way Israelis created and related to pictures. Photo Farag explores the destructive forces within a family determined to leave its mark on Israeli society. | 2017, 77 Min
2017 Silver Award at the Spotlight Documentary Film Awards
Festival Screenings: November 11th/5:00 pm, Ahrya Fine Arts Theatre; November 19th/12:00 pm, Laemmle Royal Theatre

WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS |כשהעשן מתפזר
U.S. PREMIERE
Dir: Rebecca Shore
True stories of young war veterans whose unthinkable battle experiences leave them with life-altering mental and physical scars that disconnect them from society. A revolutionary idea gives them the courage to face their obstacles and pain. Their shared healing and personal growth transforms them into the heroes of their own lives. | 2017, 85 Min
2017 Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival
Festival Screenings: November 9th/7:15 pm, Laemmle Town Center Theatre; November 13th/7:15th, Laemmle Royal Theatre

For 31 years, the Festival has presented over 950 feature films, documentaries, television dramas and short films to close to a million film goers 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.  Among the Sponsors of the 31st Israel Film Festival are long-time partners Millennium Media, Adelson Family Foundation, The Hollywood Reporter, Rabinovich Film Project, Israel Film Fund, Variety, Eclipse, Maurice Marciano Family Foundation, Max Webb Foundation, David and Judy Shore Foundation, CAA, Screen International, New Regency, Bank Leumi USA, Four Seasons Hotel, The Orlando Hotel, SLS Hotel, Pacific Holdings, Yvel and the Israel Consulate in Los Angeles, to name a few. 

Opening Night Gala VIP Tickets: $150
Opening Night Gala Tickets: $50

To attend the 31st IFF Opening Night Gala, Award Presentation and Screenings of the Israel Film Festival, or to purchase tickets contact IsraFest Foundation:
Office: 310.247.1800 • Email: info@IsraelFilmFestival.org

Visit us at www.IsraelFilmFestival.com