Natalie Portman to Receive 2016 Israel Film Festival Achievement in Film Award

Academy Award winning actress Natalie Portman will be honored with the 2016 Israel Film Festival Achievement in Film Award, Oscar nominated and Golden Globe and Emmy Award winning actress Sharon Stone will receive the 2016 Israel Film Festival Career Achievement Award and Jay Sanderson will accept the 2016 Israel Film Festival Community Leadership Award on behalf of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, at the 30th Anniversary of the Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles gala dinner on Wednesday, November 9th at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, announced Festival Founder and Executive Director Meir Fenigstein. Serving as Honorary Chairman of the Festival is Arnon Milchan, owner of New Regency Productions.

The 30th edition of the Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles runs November 9th - 23rd. Festival screenings will take place at the Laemmle Ahrya Fine Arts (Beverly Hills) and the Laemmle Town Center 5 (Encino). The Opening Night film, on November 10th, is Emil Ben-Shimon's The Women's Balcony, a US Premiere, to be held at the Steve Tisch Cinema Center in the Saban Theatre (Beverly Hills).

"Celebrating three remarkable decades as the undisputed leader in enriching U.S audiences with the award winning and critically praised productions of Israel's thriving film and television industries, I am absolutely thrilled that the Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles continues to highlight the incredible forces behind Israel's internationally recognized creative community," noted Fenigstein. "In addition, the magnificent body of work of this year's honorees Natalie Portman and Sharon Stone as well as The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles contributions to helping bridge Hollywood to Israel, continually emboldens and inspires audiences worldwide to the best that Israel has to offer."

Among this year's highlights are the narrative feature films Beyond the Mountains and Hills, The Last Band in Lebanon, One Week and a Day, Our Father, Sand Storm, Wounded Land and Amor. The documentaries include On the Map, which is the Festival's Centerpiece event, Forever Pure, Presenting Princess Shaw, The Settlers and Who's Gonna Love Me Now.

Filmmakers from Israel will attend this year's Festival, accompanying their films and participating in Q & A sessions, include:

Elite Zexer, Director of Sand Storm
Asaph Polonsly, Director of One Week and a Day
Meni Yaesh, Director of Our Father
Maya Zinshtein, Director of Forever Pure
Dani Menkin, Director and Nancy Spielberg, Executive Producer of On the Map
Itizk Krichli, Director & Producer and Elad Gavish, Producer of The Last Band in Lebanon
Raphael Rebibo, Director of Amor
Estee Mecklberg, Producer of Sand Storm & AKA Nadia

Natalie Portman has won international recognition for her work on screen and stage, as well as behind the camera. On screen, Portman has starred in over twenty-five films. She made her debut in Luc Besson's 1994 film, THE PROFESSIONAL, and went on to star in HEAT, ANYWHERE BUT HERE (Golden Globe nomination), WHERE THE HEART IS, COLD MOUNTAIN, GARDEN STATE, CLOSER (Academy Award® nomination and Golden Globe Award), V FOR VENDETTA, THE OTHER BOLEYN GIRL, NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU, THE OTHER WOMAN, BROTHERS, YOUR HIGHNESS, THOR and its sequel THOR: THE DARK WORLD. Additionally, she starred in George Lucas' STAR WARS: EPISODE 1 THE PHANTOM MENACE, STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES, and STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH.

She portrays Jacqueline KENNEDY in Pablo Larrain's film, JACKIE premiered to rave reviews at the Venice International Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival and will be released by FOX Searchlight in December 2016.

Portman has also taken on a variety of roles behind the lens. She wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the upcoming A TALE OF LOVE AND DARKNESS, which had its world premiere at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and its North American premiere at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. The story, based on the memoir by Amos Oz, revolves around Oz's childhood in Jerusalem in the period following the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel, in addition to his teenage years on a kibbutz. Portman's credits also include EVE, which she wrote and directed. She also wrote and directed the short film NEW YORK, I LOVE YOU.

Portman received her second Academy Award® nomination and first Best Actress win for her performance in Darren Aronofsky's critically acclaimed film, BLACK SWAN. For her role, Portman also received a Golden Globe, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Critics Choice Award.

Sharon Stone began her career in New York, working as an internationally successful model in print and as an actor appearing in network television. Sharon caught the eye of Woody Allen, and subsequently made her film debut in, STARDUST MEMORIES. In 1992, she starred in the blockbuster, BASIC INSTINCT, and in 1995, Sharon earned a Golden Globe Award and Academy Award nomination for her role in Martin Scorsese's acclaimed CASINO. Other film credits include, THE MUSE, SPHERE, TOTAL RECALL, SLIVER, BOBBY, THE QUICK AND THE DEAD, ALPHA DOG, FADING GIGOLO, and LOVELACE. Stone earned an Emmy Award for her role on THE PRACTICE, and in 2015 starred in the TNT DRAMA series, AGENT X. Most recently, Stone is appearing in the features, THE MASTERPIECE, directed by James Franco, and MOSAIC, directed by Steven Soderbergh.

In 1995, at the Cannes Film Festival, Sharon stepped in for Dame Elizabeth Taylor at the amfAR Gala; she has continued her worked with the organization for 20 years as the Global Fundraising Chairperson, raising hundreds of millions to find a cure, and achieving major treatment advances including pediatric care for those suffering from AIDS. Sharon is a Knight Commander of France, and in 2002, the HRC (Human Rights Campaign) honored Sharon for her contribution in combatting the AIDS epidemic. She was presented the 'Global Institutes Healthcare & Medicine Humanitarian Award' by a special assembly of one hundred of the nation's most prestigious doctors. In 2005, Sharon wrote the lyrics for the title track song, "Come Together Now" for the charity relief album for Hurricane Katrina released by Universal Records Company. In 2007, Sharon received a Doctor of Philosophy degree from Edinboro State University. Sharon is a committee chair with YALA, a ground breaking young people's peace initiative, and she has co-chaired Planet Hope providing care to single mothers and children for decades. In 2013, Sharon was honored by the Nobel Peace Laureates at the Nobel Peace Summit, in Poland, where she was given the 'Peace Summit Award' by His Holiness the Dalai Lama for her continuous humanitarian work.

Jay Sanderson, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, will be accepting the 2016 IFF Community Leadership Award on behalf of The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles

Prior to joining the Jewish Federation, Sanderson was an award-winning filmmaker and television executive. His credits include the landmark PBS series "The Jewish Americans" and "Worse Than War," the most expansive documentary on worldwide genocide ever produced. In Jay's extensive media career, he has produced several major projects and in Israel including "No Safe Place".

The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles began building the bridge between Hollywood and Israel twenty-five years ago. The Federation's groundbreaking "Master Class" introduced Israel's exciting film and television industry to Hollywood. With the Federation's countless Hollywood Missions to Israel the Federation has exposed Hollywood's most prominent executives, producers, directors, agents and actors to Israel and introduced Israel's leading filmmakers, executives, writers and actors to Hollywood.

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