JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Israeli film “Bethlehem” won six Ophir Awards and will represent Israel at the Academy Awards.
Israel’s equivalent of the Oscars was held Saturday night.
The film received Ophirs from the Israeli Academy of Film and Television for best feature film, best director, best actor, best supporting actor, best editing and best casting.
“The Gatekeepers,” featuring interviews with Israel’s former intelligence chiefs, won the Ophir for best documentary.
“Bethlehem,” which was co-written and co-directed by Yuval Adler and Ali Waked, describes the relationship between an Israeli Shin Ben security service agent and a teenage Palestinian informant, who also is the younger brother of the head of the Al-Aksa Martyrs’ Brigades in Bethlehem.
It won the Venice Days prize at the Venice Film Festival earlier this month and last week was named the best Israeli feature film at the Haifa Film Festival.
