'IFFI' HONOURS..DAN WOLMAN & ISRAELI CINEMA!

Renowned Israeli filmmaker..Dan Wolman directing a shot!

Glad to know that this time our '49th International Film Festival of India' (IFFI) will focus on Israeli Cinema and honour veteran Israeli filmmaker.. Dan Wolman with 'Lifetime Achievement Award'!

Amos Gitai's Israeli film 'Kadosh' (1999).

Since 1948 Israel produces films mostly in Hebrew with the reflection of social scenario of that region! In Middle East most of the Israeli films nominated for 'Oscar's Best Foreign Language Film!

I have been watching good contemporary Israeli films since 'Circus Palestin' (1998) which was a political satire made by Israeli filmmaker Eyal Halfon! Then I remember renowned Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai's 'Kadosh' (1999) won Best Film Award in our 'IFFI' at Delhi! Then Gitai became festival filmmaker here..Few years back watched his experimental social film 'Ana Arabia' (2013) which was cinematographed in a single long take!

Renowned Israeli filmmaker..Dan Wolman!

Dan Wolman is a renowned Israeli filmmaker. After study in Cinema..
He started making films with Short 
'The Living' (1965) & Documentary 'Saffed' (1968). Then he started making feature films with 'The Dreamer' (1970) and also entered in Television dramas with 'The Story of Bash'! His film with sensitive theme..'Hide and Seek' (1980) won Israel's 'The Silver Rose' award!

Emotional picture of Dan Wolman's film 'Tied Hands' (2006).

Then his films screened in various international film festivals like Berlin, Venice & Cannes..and won awards! In 1992 for unique vision and innovative work..his film 'Silver Hugo' won award at 'Chicago International Film Festival'. In 1999 Dan Wolman won 'Lifetime Achievement Award' in Jerusalem International Film Festival'!

Dan Wolman's romantic 'An Israeli Love Story' (2016)

Remembered Wolman's sensible films saw here in film festival. One 'Tied Hands (2006) about complex relation between mother and her ailing son..And another 'Ben's Biography' (2007) unusual picture in which married woman tried to understand why friend book keeper can not be touched by anyone! His films covered a range from commercial youth comedy 'Lemon Popsical' to personal 'The Distance'!

In 2015 Dan Wolman received 'Arik Einstin Prize' for his achievements & contribution to Israeli cinema & culture! And in 2016 he got 'The Ophir Lifetime Achievement Award' from 'Israeli Film Academy'!

I remember nice meeting Mr. Dan Wolman..few years back in our film festival here!

Congratulation Mr. Wolman!..And all the best to entire Israeli film industry!!

- Manoj Kulkarni
['Chitrasrushti', Pune, India]