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The Israeli film industry continues to consolidate its status as a major player on the international circuit, with films invited to be screened at the major film festivals around the world. Awards followed – Berlin, Cannes, Moscow and Tokyo, to name but a few. ‘The Band’s Visit’ became the most successful Israeli film in history, with global sales of more than $US11 million (and still counting – this figure does not include the box office in Australia where the film is still on release). But equally importantly, 2007 saw record box-office sales at home for Israeli produced film, with more than 1.5 million tickets sold. This represented an extraordinary 16% of the total box-office for the year.
This year's film festival reflects these successes. Both 'The Secrets' and 'Noodle' sold more than 200,000 tickets each in Israel. But in addition to celebrating the
contemporary Israeli film industry, we are including two earlier films of Avi Nesher, director of the opening film. Both were controversial, for different reasons, on their release. Both are now regarded as classics of their time. Screening them now in the 60th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, provides an opportunity to reflect on the industry of its time and its subsequent influence.
Gal Zaid is the lead actor, writer and co-producer of ‘Foul Gesture’. The film took out the best film award at the Haifa International Film Festival and, in May, received the FIPRESCI award at the 2008 Miami International Film Festival. Gal has a long and distinguished career in Israeli film and television – on four separate occasions he has been nominated for Israeli Academy Awards for his roles in ‘Foul Gesture’, ‘Ben’s Biography’ (2003), ‘Giraffes (2001) and ‘Clean Sweep’ (2000). He received the Best Actor award for his role in ‘No Exit’ at the Jerusalem International Film Festival – a film screened in the AIFF07 – and he starred in the Sundance Film Festival award-winning ‘Sweet Mud’.
In addition to acting, Gal has written a number of Israeli television programs and
series, as well as the films ‘Foul Gesture’ and ‘Clean Sweep’.
Gal Zaid as Michael Kleinhouse in ‘Foul Gesture’
Gal Zaid is currently the Head and Commissioning Editor of the drama and film
department of Keshet, Israel’s leading commercial television station.
As a guest of the festival, he will attend the opening nights of both Sydney and
Melbourne, as well as introduce the screenings of ‘Foul Gesture’ on 26 August
(Sydney) and 2 September (Melbourne).
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