September 21, 2007–Eran Kolirin’s “The Band’s Visit” was the big winner at Israeli Film Academy Awards, known locally as the Ophir Awards, taking eight prizes including best film and director.
The win makes the picture Israel’s foreign-language Oscar submission.
The film, about an Egyptian police band that gets lost while travelling in Israel, has already picked up many awards since its world preem at Cannes, where it won the Jury Coup Du Coeur in the Un Certain Regard section.
Sony Pictures Classics picked up rights to the U.S., U.K. and Canada at Cannes in a deal said to be the richest ever for an Israeli feature.
The Winners Are:
Film
“The Band’s Visit”
Director
Eran Kolirin for “The Band’s Visit”
Editing
Zohar Sela for “Beaufort”
Screenplay
Eran Kolirin for “The Band’s Visit”
Cinematography
Ofer Inov for “Beaufort”
Actress
Ronit Elkabetz for her role in “The Band’s Visit”
Actor
Sasson Gabai for his role in “The Band’s Visit”
Supporting Actor
Saleh Bakri for his role in “The Band’s Visit”
Supporting Actress
Anat Waxman for her role in “Noodle”
Music
Habib Shadah for “The Band’s Visit”
Art Direction
Miguel Markin for “Beaufort”
Costumes
Doron Ashkenazi for “The Band’s Visit”
Sound
Israel David and Ashi Milo for “Beaufort”
