AICE Israeli Film Festival 2008 Opening Night, Melbourne

The fifth AICE Israeli Film Festival opened on Monday 1 September at the Palace Como, South Yarra. More than 400 people attended the Opening Night of the Festival, officially launched by The Ambassador of Israel, H.E. Yuval Rotem. Other speakers on the evening included Tony Lupton MP, Cabinet Secretary of Victoria and Evan Thornley MP, Deputy Cabinet Secretary (both of whom represented the Victorian Premier, John Brumby), guest of the Festival Gal Zaid, leading member of the Aboriginal community, Warren Mundine, Founder and Chairman of AICE, Albert Dadon AM and AICE Executive Director, Keith Lawrence. Australian actress Kerry Armstrong, international jazz pianist Joe Chindamo, Sir Zelman and Lady Anna Cowen, Melbourne Film Festival director Richard Moore, award-winning film and television producers Sue Maslin and Ros Tatarka were just some of the guests at the opening night.

The opening film was the multi-award winning 'The Secrets', written, directed and produced by Avi Nesher, whose previous film, 'Turn Left at the End of the World' opened the festival in 2005. Awards include Best Film and Best Script at the 2008 Jackson Hole International Film Festival and nominations for 8 Israeli 'Ophirs' (including Best Film).