Lia van Leer’s 21st International Jerusalem Film Festival begins Thursday, July 8, with a traditional starlight screening against the backdrop of the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem. This year the opening film will be Emir Kusturica’s “Life is a Miracle.” Kusturica will be a guest of the festival, as will British filmmaker Anthony Minghella, (“The English Patient,” “Cold Mountain”). They will both receive Achievement Awards at the inauguration of the festival. Lifetime Achieve...

Today's films from the official selection are:Nominees for the Golden PalmNobody Knows (Daremo Shiranai) is by Kore-Eda Hirokazu (Japan), and his film Distance was in the official selection in 2001. His fourth feature treats the true story that took place in 1988 "Affair of the Four Abandoned Children of Nishi-Sugamo" where four children fathered by different men and abandoned by their mother learn how to survive and talk care of each other.Consequences Of Love (Le Conseguenze Del...

Showing today: a selectionNOBODY KNOWS by KORE-EDA Hirokazu (in compétition)CONSEQUENCES OF LOVE by Paolo SORRENTINO (in compétition)SALVADOR ALLENDE by Patricio GUZMAN (out of compétition) TROY by Wolfgang PETERSEN (out of compétition) 10 ON TEN by Abbas KIAROSTAMI (Un certain regard) BIENVENUE EN SUISSE by Léa FAZER (Un certain regard)...

LOS ANGELES FILM CRITICS ANNOUNCE 2003 AWARD WINNERS"American Splendor" was voted Best Picture of the Year, it was announced by Jean Oppenheimer, President of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA). The runner up was "Lost in Translation".LAFCA's 29th annual achievement awards ceremony will be held Monday, January 26 at the St. Regis Hotel in Los Angeles.Other award winners are:DIRECTOR: Peter Jackson: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"Runner-up: Clint Eastwood: "Mystic R...