A joint Israeli-Soviet commercial film venture is in the making. If negotiations now taking place here are successful, shooting will begin in the USSR next April and later in Israel.
George Daniela, a leading Soviet director, and Russian screenwriter Revaz Gabeiadz are in Israel to finalize a deal with Menahem Golan, head of Cannon Films, a company owned by Israelis that has produced major films for international markets. Cannon is known to be in financial difficulties.
Golan originated the idea of a comedy in English and Russian which attracted the attention of the two Soviet film-makers, neither of whom is Jewish. The plot concerns a non-Jew from the Soviet Georgian Republic who, hearing about Israel from Jewish compatriots, decides to pose as a Jew and try it for himself.
The production will be co-produced with Cannon Films and Golan-Globus Israel Studios in Jerusalem. About a third will be shot in the USSR, possibly in Georgia, and the rest in Israel.
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