Four Israeli movies are scheduled to be screened at the annual Cannes Film Festival that will take place between July 6-17 in France.
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Israeli screenwriter and film director Nadav Lapid will present two of his works, the drama film "Ahed's Knee" starring Israeli actor Avshalom Pollak and his short film "Star." The latter will be screened in the festival but will not be part of any competition, while the former will compete for the Palme d'Or, the highest prize awarded at the prestigious event.
Lapid's drama, "Synonyms," won the Golden Bear award at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2019.
He said in a statement that "presenting two films at the Cannes Festival is like digging, finding the treasure and then finding another one. I feel very fortunate that "Ahed's Knee" was chosen for the official screening. I am no less excited about "Star," which was created during the height of the pandemic but in an atmosphere of happiness and passion for life."
Director Eran Kolirin is returning to the festival this year with "Let It Be Morning" based on Palestinian writer Sayed Kashua's 2006 novel of the same title.
Kolirin's directorial debut in 2007, "The Band's Visit," won 8 awards from the Israeli Film Academy and prizes at several international film festivals. His drama film "Beyond the Mountains and Hills" was screened at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016.
Kolirin said in a statement: "I am happy and overjoyed to return to Cannes … It will be my third time there, after 'The Band's Visit' and '"Beyond the Mountains and Hills' were screened at the event. I am looking forward to the moment the audience will watch 'Let It Be Morning' for the first time."
Another Israeli film to be screened at the festival is "Black Notebooks" by director Shlomi Elkabetz, which is based on the story of his sister, renowned Israeli actress Ronit Elkabetz, who died of lung cancer in 2016. It will not be part of any competition either.
In the running for the Palme d'Or are filmmakers Wes Anderson (US), Jacques Audiard (France), Paul Verhoeven (Netherlands), Nanni Moretti (Italy), Francois Ozon (France), Asghar Farhadi (Iran), Mia Hansen-Love (France), Sean Baker (US), Sean Penn (US) and more.
The festival will be opening with French film director Leos Carax's musical film "Annette" starring American actor Adam Driver and French actress Marion Cotillard.
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