Internationally recognized & soon-to-be discovered - Best of Israeli Cinema Meets at Montreal Israel Film Festival

MONTREAL, April 6, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Eran Bester, Founder/Director of the Montreal Israel Film Festival, is proud to announce the return of this annual celebration of award-winning Israeli films and internationally-acclaimed guests, from April 29 to May 7.

Offering a creative take on the intricacies of life in Israel, this 8^th edition gives special attention to the remarkable feats of Israeli films recently commended in international circles the likes of the Oscars, the Festival de Cannes, the Berlin International Film Festival, TIFF and the Sundance Film Festival. The program also features lesser-known gems (including 3 Canadian & 1 Montreal Premiere) which have dazzled jury and audience members in Israel alike.

GUESTS: ISRAELI/CANADIAN COLLABORATION

For its opening night, the Festival hosts award-winning filmmakers Guy Nattiv (more than 20 awards worldwide, including Best Short at Sundance) and Philippe Lavalette (1 Cannes nomination, 1 HotDocs award and numerous Gemini awards), as they present their much-anticipated film THE FLOOD (MABUL) at the AMC Forum on April 29, 8:30 P.M. Guy Nattiv will present THE FLOOD at a second screening on April 30, as part of the Festival, before its Canadian theatrical release on May 4.

Featuring original music by Patrick Watson, THE FLOOD (Best Supporting Actor - 2010 Israeli Film Academy Awards, Special Mention - 2011 Berlin International Film Festival), is an unusual coming-of-age tale of a boy's struggle with bullies, an unstable family and an estranged autistic brother.

WORLD-CLASS CALIBER

Two highly-anticipated films at the Festival this year are Joseph Cedar's FOOTNOTE (Best Screenplay - 2011 Cannes & Best Foreign Language Film nomination - 2011 Academy Awards) a story of intense father/son rivalry in a relentless academic competition and Yossi Madmoni's RESTORATION, a gripping tale about a family's struggle to save their business while trying to save themselves (World Cinema Screenwriting Award - 2011 Sundance Film Festival, Official Selection - TIFF 2011, 11 nominations - 2011 Israeli Film Academy Awards, 4 Wins - Jerusalem Film Festival).

AMONG OTHER GEMS

The festival is pleased to offer a handful of lesser-known titles that recently made an mark in Israel and deal with a range of complex topics such as the supernatural love story depicted in MY LOVELY SISTER (10 Nominations & 2 Wins - 2011 Israeli Film Academy Awards), public scorn versus personal victory in Eran Riklis' PLAYOFF, immigration and anti-Semitism in MY AUSTRALIA (Audience Award - 2011 Jerusalem Film Festival) and MELTING AWAY (Best Actress nomination - 2011 Israeli Film Academy Awards), the first Israeli feature to explore the relation between parents and transgendered children.

FESTIVAL INFO

For additional information about the program, locations, and admission, call [phone] or visit www.israelfilmfestival.ca

Media Contact:
Alex Nitsiou | [email protected] | +1.514.443.3731