Film

Israel has developed a flourishing film industry, competing in international film festivals, winning numerous awards, and showcasing its work in commercial cinemas. In Israel, a country of just seven million people, there are ten film schools and seven international film festivals.

In recent years the Israeli film industry has grown tremendously, with annually more than 2.5 million people worldwide watching Israeli films. Such growth is an achievement of the Israeli Film Fund, which works to engender a sustainable, creative and a vibrant Israeli film industry. In 2000, the Israeli government passed a New Cinema Law to ensure and secure more funding for Israeli cinema.

The film 18 Kilos of Love recently won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Media Access Awards in Los Angeles. Israelis films which recently won prizes at international film festivals include Yossi & Jagger, Broken Wings, Ushpizin, Walk on Water and More Than 1000 Words. Israeli actress Hannah Laszlo recently won the award for Best Actress at the Cannes International Film Festival for Free Zone, also staring American-Israeli actress Natalie Portman.

Film Festivals in New York, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and all across the United States have brought over 500 Israeli films to a growing audience of hundreds of thousands of Americans.

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