Woody Allen
Photo: AP
Woody Allen to take part in Eilat festival
Jewish American director, writer and actor to arrive in Israel for first official visit as guest of 6th Red Sea International Film Festival
American film director, writer and actor Woody Allen is expected to arrive in Israel
next month for a first official visit, as the guest of honor of the 6th Red Sea International Film Festival.
Allen, 73, who has dealt with his connection to Judaism in most of his films, has been critical of the Israeli policy in several interviews. He will arrive in Israel in order to promote his new film, "Cassandra's Dream", starring Colin Farrell and Ewan McGregor.
Serbian filmmaker Emir Kusturica was also invited to the festival, in order to promote his new comedy, "Promise Me This."
Sixty-five films will take part in the festival, including "California Dreamin'", a 2007 Romanian film by Cristian Nemescu which won the Prix un certain regard at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival, and "Mama's Boy" starring Diane Keaton.
The Jewish-Arab issue will be featured in the film "Everest Climb for Peace," which accompanies an Israeli-Palestinian delegation to the top of Mount Everest, and is narrated by actor Orlando Bloom, and "Sour", a film about a joint Israeli-Jordanian skateboarders' initiative during the Second Lebanon War.
The festival's guest of honor will be actor Charles Dance of the Royal Shakespeare Company, who will present his first film as a director and screenwriter, "Ladies in Lavender".
Israel will be represented by "Lemon Tree", "Beaufort", "Aviva My Love" and "Things Behind the Sun".
The Festival will be held between May 13 and May 17.
