Hollywood guests take center stage at Israel Film Festival in LA

From October 7 survivors making music with American rock stars to an unexpected friendship between a Palestinian driver and an Israeli passenger in Berlin, the 38th Israel Film Festival in Los Angeles will present creative cinematic portraits of Israel's diversity from November 18-24.Founded and directed by Meir Fenigstein, known to generations of Israeli music fans as the drummer and Poogy character from the supergroup Kaveret, the festival will feature contemporary dramas, comedies, and documentaries, along with encounters with filmmakers and actors.The opening gala at the Writers Guild Theater in Beverly Hills will honor two figures who have helped bring Israeli and American entertainment to audiences: legendary Israeli producer Moshe Edery and Hollywood producer Kevin S. Bright. Edery has produced over 200 movies and television series, from classics such as Avi Nesher's Turn Left at the End of the World, Eytan Fox's Walk on Water, and Joseph Cedar's Beaufort, to recent hits that include Ben Bachar's Saving Shuli-San and Nesher's Our Loves.Bright is best known as a producer of the series Friends, and he will attend a screening of one of his latest projects, The Bridge, which he produced with David Fishof.Directed by Brad Allgood, the documentary follows 10 Israeli musicians who survived October 7 as they travel to Los Angeles to participate in Rock 'n'