Ambassador
James B. Cunningham

Biography

Speeches

Remarks by James B. Cunningham U.S. Ambassador to Israel at the Israel Film Festival, Sep 22, 2008

Amb Cunningham delivering remarks (Photo Credit: Matty Stern/U.S. embassy Tel Aviv)

Minister of Education Yuli Tamir, Executive Director of the Israel Film Festival Meir Fenigstein , General Manager of the Israel Film Fund Katriel Schory,  honored guests representing the thriving Israeli film industry, ladies and gentlemen - 
Good evening.

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to the Residence for tonight’s reception recognizing the 23rd Israel Film Festival and 60 years of U.S.- Israeli cultural relations.

As many of you know, Meir Fenigstein is the founder and driving force behind the Israel Film Festival.  I would like to congratulate Meir for his perseverance and hard work that have made the Festival into the major success that it is today.

Amb & Mr. Cunninham, Meir Fenigstein and Minister of Education Yuli Tamir (Photo Credit: Matty Stern/U.S. embassy Tel Aviv)

The purpose of the Festival is two-fold: It brings the best of Israeli film to a broad American audience, and it recognizes the contributions of important members of America’s film industry.

Over the past 23 years, the Israel Film Festival has shown over 800 feature films, documentaries, TV dramas, and student shorts to nearly 1 Million people in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.  This year, the festival in Los Angeles has already been completed, with festivals still to take place in New York (beginning on October 29) and in Miami (beginning of December 9).
Kirk Douglas and Rob and Carl Reiner were honored in Los Angeles.  Danny DeVito and Irwin Winkler will be honored in New York, with Mike Douglas as presenter.

There is one other goal of the Film Festival - with the indispensable contributions of the Israel Film Fund: To support and encourage young Israeli film makers as they hone their skills.  We will hear more about this important goal later on.

This is the 60th anniversary year of the founding of the modern State of Israel.  That makes this the 60th year of U.S.-Israel diplomatic and cultural relations.  The American Embassy is sponsoring a series of cultural events throughout the year.  The Israel Film Festival is an important vehicle for inter-cultural exchange. 

Meir Fenigstein, Founder Executive Director Israel Film Festival; Moshe Ivgi; Yuval Scharf; Alon Aboutboul & Amb Cunningham (Photo Credit: Matty Stern/U.S. embassy Tel Aviv)

I congratulate the Israel Film Festival and the Israel Film Fund and wish them every success in the future.  Your work in promoting American understanding of Israeli life and culture will continue to strengthen the unique bond between our two countries.