“Next to Her” drama to open Israel Film Festival

PanARMENIAN.Net - Asaf Korman’s Next to Her, a drama about a woman caring for her mentally-challenged sister, will serve as opening night film at the 28th Israel Film Festival, which runs from Oct. 23 to Nov. 6 at various locations in Beverly Hills, Encino and North Hollywood. Dana Ivgy, who was named best supporting actress this year at the Israeli Academy Awards for her performance as the mentally-challenged young girl, will be in attendance along with producer Estee Mecklberg, when the film screens at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, The Hollywood Reporter said.

Producers Arnon Milchan and Mace Neufeld will be honored at the opening night with Milchan receiving the festival’s Visionary Award and Neufeld taking home its Cinematic Achievement Award.

Twenty-eight narrative and documentary films will screen at the festival, IFF’s founder and executive director Meir Feningstein announced, as he unveiled the line-up.

The festival also will pay tribute to producer Menachem Golan, who died in August, by presenting the U.S. premiere of The Go-Go Boys: The Inside Story of Cannon Films as the festival’s centerpiece. The documentary about Golan and his cousin Yoram Globus had its world premiere in May at the Cannes Film Festival. A panel discussion about the life and times of Golan take place at the Writers Guild Theatre, and the fest is also planning a Q & A with the film’s director Hilla Medalia.

Also on tap are a screening of the autobiographical documentary Life as a Rumor, which celebrates the life of the late Assi Dayan, son of the Israeli General Moshe Dayan and one of Israel’s most prominent film directors, and actors, and the documentary Above and Beyond, produced by Nancy Spielberg, about World War II pilots who volunteered to fight for Israel in its War of Independence.

“Israeli cinema is on a roll,” Fenigstein said. “For 28 years, we have been bringing the best of Israeli movies and documentaries to Los Angeles, but I must say the creativity, passion and depth filmmakers have been bringing to their projects lately has been amazing.”