Jerusalem Film Festival
The Jerusalem Film Festival (Hebrew: פסטיבל הקולנוע ירושלים) is an international film festival held annually in Jerusalem, Israel. The festival was the brainchild of Lia van Leer, who inaugurated it on May 17, 1984. [1] Feature films and documentaries from all over the world are screened, and awards are presented in many categories.[2]
History
After serving as a judge at the Cannes film festival, Lia van Leer decided to organize a similar event in Israel.[3] Jeanne Moreau, Lillian Gish Warren Beatty and John Schlesinger arrived in Israel to attend the debut. [3]
In 1989, van Leer persuaded American philanthropist Jack Wolgin to set up a competition bearing his name for the best Israeli films. The Wolgin Prize has become the country's most prestigious feature film award.[3]
In 2008, van Leer, 84, stepped down as director of the festival and turned the job over to a new CEO, Ilan de Vries.[3]
Awards
Competitions at the festival include the Wolgin Award for Israeli Cinema, the Anat Pirchi Drama Award, the Spirit of Freedom Awards , the Forum for the Preservation of Audio-Visual Memory in Israel Award for the Creative use of Archival Footage and the FIPRESCII competition for first time filmmakers. [4]