The 27th annual Israel Film Festival will take place between Apr 18 and May 2 in Beverly Hills, festival founder and executive director Meir Fenigstein announced on Thursday [Apr 4].

“The Israeli film industry has been on a great upswing these past few years with bigger, better and more high-profile movies than in its history,” said Fenigstein.

“This year’s crop of exciting, fresh and smart pictures and programmes is no exception and they showcase the broad and yet divergent stories and personalities only Israel can produce.”

As previously announced, Sherry Lansing will receive the festival’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award and Martin Landau will receive the Career Achievement Award, both of which will be presented on opening night, Apr 18, at the Writers Guild Theatre in Beverly Hills.

Following the presentations there will be the West Coast premiere of opening night film The Ballad Of The Weeping Spring [pictured].

Also being honoured on opening night will be Israeli actor Uri Gavriel, who will receive the Cinematic Achievement Award.

The closing night on May 2 will include a presentation of another Lifetime Achievement Award to comedians HaGashash HaHiver and a screening of Eran Ricklis’ war thriller Zaytoun.

Dana Doron’s documentary Numbered will screen on Apr 28 to pay homage to second generation Holocaust survivors and their families, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Holocaust survivors in urgent need.

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