"The Band's Visit", director Eran Kolirin's understated feature film debut, is earning prestigious awards and praise around the globe.
A melancholy comedy depicting a clash of cultures that gives way to a meeting of minds, the movie tells the story of an Egyptian police band arriving in Israel to play at the opening ceremony of a cultural centre. Mistaking the directions they are given, they arrive at a remote, imaginary town in the midst of the Negev desert, where they discover their mistake - and the fact that there is no transport until the following morning. They are befriended by a local kiosk owner, who finds them all accommodation for the night with local residents.
Virtuoso acting, sensitive direction and outstanding photography all come together in this subtle comic drama. At the Cannes Festival held in May, the film was awarded the 'Coup de Coeur du Jury' by the Jury of the FIPRESCI (International Federation of Film Critics). The film was also awarded the 26th Youth Prize in the 'Un Certain Regard' section. The film has since gone on to win many additional prestigious awards, among them eight awards at the Israel Film Academy's Ophir Awards competition held in Israel in September. The awards include best film, best director, best actor, best actress and best script.
The film was screened recently (3 November 2007) at AFI FEST (American Film Institute Festival) in Los Angeles, to general acclaim. That same day it won the special jury prize at the fifth Worldfilm Festival of Bangkok, Thailand. A week previously, it won the Sakura Grand Prix at the 20th Tokyo International Film Festival.
"The Band's Visit" continued to win acclaim, as Sasson Gabai was named the 2007 European Film Academy's best actor for his role in the film, and director Eran Kolirin won the coveted best screenwriter's award.