Israeli Film Academy’s 2007 Ophir Awards
by Andre Soares
Israeli Film Academy Awards - Ophir 2007
The winners of the 2007 Ophir Awards were announced on Sept. 20, 2007.
("*" denotes the winner in each category)
Despite stiff competition, Eran Kolirin’s The Band’s Visit, the tale of an Egyptian brass band stranded in a small Israeli town, won a total of eight Ophir Awards, including best film and best director. The best film win automatically made The Band’s Visit Israel’s official entry for the best foreign-language film Academy Award. One problem with that choice, however, is that much of the film’s dialogue — possibly more than 50% — is in English. If so, that would render The Band’s Visit ineligible in the best foreign-language film category.
At the Ophir ceremony, the film’s best supporting actor winner, Saleh Bakri, declared, “I want to thank my father, who taught me to love mankind, and my mother, who taught me to bear the burden of life in this country and stand strong,” while best actress winner Ronit Elkabetz told Kolirin, “You reminded us of a thing or two that we have already managed to forget. You showed us what would happen if we would stand before each other, Jews and Arabs and look each other in the eye.” More on the Ophir Awards in the Jerusalem Post. Quotes: Ynet
News.
Best Picture
Beaufort
* Bikur Hatizmoret / The Band’s Visit
Hofshat Kaits / My Father My Lord
Meduzot / Jellyfish
Noodle
Best Documentary Feature
A Working Mom by Limor Pinkhasov, Yaron Kaftori
Old-Time Stories by Yoav Gurfinkel
9 Star Hotel by Ido Haar
* The Champagne Spy by Nadav Schirman
Three Times Divorced by Ebtisam Mara’ana
Best Director
Joseph Cedar - Beaufort
* Eran Kolirin - The Band’s Visit
Ayelet Menahemi - Noodle
Etgar Keret, Shira Gefen - Jellyfish
Tzahi Grad - Foul Gesture
Best Actor
Oshri Cohen - Beaufort
* Sasson Gabai - The Band’s Visit
Assi Dayan - My Father My Lord
Liron Levo - Strangers
Gal Zayed - Foul Gesture
Best Actress
* Ronit Elkabetz - The Band’s Visit
Ania Bukstein - Hasodot
Sarah Adler - Jellyfish
Mili Avital - Noodle
Keren Mor - Foul Gesture
Best Supporting Actor
* Salah Bakhri - The Band’s Visit
Adir Miler - Hasodot
Tzahi Grad - Jellyfish
Yiftach Klein - Noodle
Asher Tzarfati - Foul Gesture
Best Supporting Actress
Rinat Matatov - The Band’s Visit
Neta Garty - The Debt
Michal Shtamler - Hasodot
Zaharira Harifai - Jellyfish
* Anat Waxman - Noodle
Best Screenplay
Ron Leshem, Joseph Cedar - Beaufort
* Eran Kolirin - The Band’s Visit
David Volach - My Father My Lord
Shira Gefen - Jellyfish
Ayelet Menahemi, Shemi Zarhin - Noodle
Best Cinematography
* Ofer Inov - Beaufort
Shay Goldman - The Band’s Visit
Giora Bejach - The Debt
Boaz Yehonatan Yaakov - My Father My Lord
Itzik Portal - Noodle
Best Editing
* Zohar Sela - Beaufort
Arik Lahav Leibovitz - The Band’s Visit
Itzhak Tzehayek - Hasodot
Sasha Franklin - Jellyfish
Einat Glazer Zarhin - Noodle
Best Music
Ishay Eder - Beaufort
* Habib Sh’hada Hana - The Band’s Visit
Daniel Salomon - Hasodot
Hayim Ilfman - Noodle
Karni Postal, Dudush Klemes - Foul Gesture
Best Art Direction
* Miguel Markin - Beaufort
Eitan Levi - The Band’s Visit
Ido Dolev - The Debt
Yoram Shayer - Hasodot
Avi Fahima - Jellyfish
Best Costume Design
Maya Mor - Beaufort
* Doron Ashkenazi - The Band’s Visit
Inbal Shuki - The Debt
Inbal Shuki, Mishmish Uri - Hasodot
Li Almabik - Jellyfish
Best Sound
* Ashi Milo, Alex Klod, Yisrael David - Beaufort
Itay Elohev, Gil Toren - The Band’s Visit
David Liss, Yisrael David - Hasodot
Gil Toren, Aviv Aldema, Eli Yrakoni, Ashi Milo - Jellyfish
Ashi Milo, Aviv Aldema, Yisrael David - Noodle
Special Award: Avraham Leibman
Lifetime Achievement Award: Itzik Kol
Film Awards: 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
San Sebastian Film Festival 2007 Awards
Toronto Film Festival 2007 Awards
Edinburgh Film Festival 2007 Awards
Sarajevo Film Festival 2007 Awards
Montreal World Film Festival 2007 Awards
Norway’s Film Awards - 2007 Amandas
Locarno Film Festival 2007 Awards
Indian National Film Awards 2007
Venice Film Festival 2007 awards
Sundance Film Festival 2007 awards
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