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The Hamptons International Film Festival, which kicked off its five-day cinema celebration last evening, will toast the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel with a program focusing on contemporary films and filmmakers from the Holy Land.

LEMON TREE (Israel, East Coast Premiere) directed by Eran Riklis, will be the Opening Night Film of the Israel at 60 Program, and East Hampton's Vered Gallery will host a Israel at 60 Reception following the film.


Other films in the program include THE BEETLE (Israel, US Premiere) Dir. Yishai Orian; FOR MY FATHER (Israel, US Premiere) Dir. Dror Zahavi; ONE DAY YOU’LL UNDERSTAND (France/Germany, US Premiere) Dir. Amos Gitai; THE HEART OF JENIN (Germany/Israel, US Premiere) Dir. Marcus Vetter; VASERMIL; (Israel, East Coast Premiere) Dir. Mushon Salmona.


Also part of the program, the Festival will be presenting the game PeaceMaker, an interactive video game inspired by real events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. PeaceMaker™ offers Hamptons festival-goers the opportunity to practice leadership skills and sustain peace in the Middle East by way of a virtual setting, and game makers Asi Burak and Eric Brown will attend the festival to offer tutorials and game tips.


This afternoon, participating filmmakers, game makers and invited guests, including Tali Cherlizi, Director of Film and Media at the Consulate General of Israel in New York, will participate on a panel to discuss the current state of the film and media industry in contemporary Israel .


Sandy Mandelberger, Film New York Editor