7 Stories from Israel – Israeli Cinema Week

The Embassy of Israel in Athens, in cooperation with the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation organizes tribute to the Israeli Cinema, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education & Religion Affairs, Culture and Sports. The tribute under the title “7 Stories from Israel – Israeli Cinema Week” is going to take place at the Michael Cacoyannis Foundation, from October 18th to 24th 2012.

The Israeli cinema is no longer unknown in Greece. Films from Israel participate and stand out in various film festivals in Greece, while at the same time they are being screened in movies as well as on TV. The tribute under the title “7 Stories from Israel – Israeli Cinema Week” offers to the Greek audience the opportunity to be introduced to the various aspects of a dynamic society and a culture that constantly evolves, through seven films, seven stories which show images from Israel beyond the ones in the limelight.

Thursday 18 October 2012 – Theatre Hall MCF
Footnote (2011, 103, הערת שוליים) at 21:00

Director: Joseph Cedar
Writer: Joseph Cedar
Stars: Lior Ashkenazi, Shlomo Bar-Aba and Aliza Rosen

Eliezer and Uriel Shkolnik are father and son as well as rival professors in Talmudic Studies. When both men learn that Eliezer will be lauded for his work, their complicated relationship reaches a new peak.

Best Screenplay Award, Cannes Film Festival 2011,
Oscar Nomination – Foreign Language Film 2012

In Presence of the Leading Actor Lior Ashkenazi

Friday 19 October 2012 – Cinema Hall
The Band’s Visit (2007, 87′, ביקור התזמורת) at 21:00

Director: Eran Kolirin
Writer: Eran Kolirin
Stars: Sasson Gabai, Ronit Elkabetz and Saleh Bakri

A band comprised of members of the Egyptian police force head to Israel to play at the inaugural ceremony of an Arab arts center, only to find themselves lost in the wrong town.

8 Israeli and 14 international awards.

Friday, 19 October 2012 at 23:00
Rabies (2010, 90′, כלבת)

Q&A Session will follow

Director: Navot Papushado & Aharon Keshales
Writer: Navot Papushado
Stars:  Lior Ashkenazi, Danny Geva and Ania Bukstein

A brother and sister run away from home find sanctuary in a deserted nature reserve. When the sister falls into the trap of a psychopathic killer, the brother sets out on a race against time to find help. In a twist of fate the rescue of the sister becomes inadvertently intertwined with the lives of a group of young tennis players, a ranger and his dog, as well as a team of policemen.

Saturday 20 October 2012 – Cinema Hall
The Matchmaker (2010, 112′, פעם הייתי) at 20:00

Director: Avi Nesher
Writers: Avi Nesher (screenplay), Amir Gutfreund (novel)
Stars: Adir Miller, Maya Dagan and Tuval Shafir

During the summer of 1968 a teenage boy goes to work for a matchmaker who has survived the Holocaust – both their lives are forever altered.

Turn Left at the End of the World (2004, 110′, סוף העולם שמאלה), Cinema Hall at 22:00

Director: Avi Nesher
Writers: Avi Nesher, Sara Eden
Stars: Neta Garty, Liraz Charhi and Aure Atika

As a family from India moves in to a desert neighborhood in Southern Israel in the 1960’s, the family’s eldest, beautiful daughter discovers friendship and romance with the lovely local French girl. The film also explores the hardships and surprises that come with the integration of multiple families from different ethnic backgrounds (from the diaspora) and their struggle with immigration and prejudice.

Audience Award at the festival Taormina Film Fest and the Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival.

Sunday 21 October 2012 – Cinema Hall, at 20:00
Desperado Square (2001, 98′, כיכר החלומות)

Director: Benny Toraty
Writer: Benny Toraty
Stars: Joseph Shiloach, Yona Elian and Mohammed Bakri

In a neighborhood that time forgot, the first anniversary of Morris Mandabon’s death is approaching and his youngest son, Nissim has a dream. In the dream his father orders him to re-open the old neighborhood movie-theater thus breaking the vow Morris had made years ago never to screen movies again.

Monday 22 October 2012  – Cinema Hall, at 21:00
Or (My Treasure) (2004, 100′, אור)

Director: Keren Yedaya
Writers: Keren Yedaya, Sari Ezouz
Stars: Ronit Elkabetz, Dana Ivgy and Meshar Cohen

Or shoulders a lot: she’s 17 or 18, a student, works evenings at a restaurant, recycles cans and bottles for cash, and tries to keep her mother Ruthie from returning to streetwalking in Tel Aviv.