einatshaul's blog

The Israel Film Festival has shown more than 800 features films, documentaries, television dramas and short films to roughly 900,000 film enthusiasts. What makes this annual event so unique is that is plays in Los Angeles, New York and Miami—a rarity on the film festival circuit. Since debuting in 1981 with just half a dozen movies, the festival has become one of the nation's leading foreign film festivals and the largest showcase for Israeli films in the United States as well as a launching pad for several notable U.S. premieres. Our extraordinary collection of stylish cinema verite, gripping dramas, thought-provoking documentaries and offbeat comedies, including all seven Israeli films that have been nominated for Academy Awards, appeal to everyone from the most discerning film critic to family audiences. Festival-goers are treated to a bird's eye view of spotlight premieres in post-screening Q&As with the filmmakers. Opening-night screenings have been held at the world-famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre and Cinerama Dome at the ArcLight Hollywood. The festival's founder, Meir Fenigstein, had stars in his eyes when he was a student at the Boston College of Music, dreaming one day of starting an Israel film festival in the U.S. to showcase his beloved country's celluloid heroes and filmmaking talent. Torn between music and cinema, he first pursued a career as the drummer for Kavaret and later channeled the popular Israeli rock group's raw energy into the Israel Film Festival for which the Tel Aviv native serves as Executive Director. Over the years, Fenigstein has been able to sustain the festival with the help of several key organizations that play an indispensable role in generously supporting the festival from one year to the next. They include the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, government of Israel, the Israel Film Fund, the Israeli film and television industry and Hollywood community, as well as numerous businesses, foundations and individuals.