Israeli Arab actress appointed to APSA jury
Israeli Arab actress Hiam Abbass has been appointed to the judging jury of the Asia Pacific Screen Awards to be announced in Brisbane next month.
In the screed accompanying the announcement by Brisbane’s Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, Abbass is described as being “One of the most acclaimed and recognised Palestinian actresses working in international cinema today.”
Hiam Abbass
Ronit Elkabetz
Hiam Abbass has starred in almost 50 feature films. The talented and multilingual actress, director and writer works regularly in Palestine, Israel, France and the US. Abbass has collaborated twice with Israeli director Eran Riklis, on The Syrian Bride and on Lemon Tree, for which she won the APSA and the Israeli Film Academy Award for Best Actress and received a European Film Award nomination. In 2012, her first feature film debut as writer/director, Inheritance, screened at the Venice Film Festival.
Israeli actress Ronit Elkabetz is nominated for Best Performance by an Actress for her role in Gett, The Trial of Viviane Amsalem – which she directed with her brother.
Gett is currently showing at the Jewish International Film Festival opening tonight in Melbourne.
Festival director Lindy Tamir told J-Wire: “I am delighted that Ronit has been nominated. It is a very powerful film and I understand Israel has nominated it for selection for the Academy Awards.”
For more screening times where and when see jiff.com.au
