Oscar nominee Danny DeVito, Oscar winner Irwin Winkler and Oscar winner Edward Zwick will be honored at the 23rd annual Israel Film Festival - it was announced today by Founder/Executive Director, Meir Fenigstein. These three prolific filmmakers will receive their awards during the opening night Gala and Premiere Presentation, Wednesday October 29th at the Ziegfeld Theatre in New York City.

Oscar nominated and Emmy award winning actor, director, producer and writer, Danny DeVito (Taxi, Get Shorty, War of the Roses, Erin Brockovich) will be the recipient of the Lifetime Visionary Award. Oscar winning producer and director, Irwin Winkler (Rocky, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, The Right Stuff) will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. And, Oscar winning director, writer, producer, Edward Zwick (Glory, Blood Diamond) will receive the Israel Film Festival Award for Outstanding Achievement in Film. The evening will also include scenes from Mr. Zwick’s much-anticipated upcoming release, Defiance, starring Daniel Craig and Liev Schreiber.

A portion of the proceeds from the 23rd annual Gala will benefit the Israel Film Festival’s Student Film Scholarship - supporting students from six film schools across Israel including: The Sam Spiegel Film & T.V. School Jerusalem, Sapir Academic College Shderot, Ma'ale School of Television Film & Arts, Tel Aviv University- Film and Television Dept., Hamidrasha Biat – Berl Collage and Tel Hai Communication Center for Cinema.

The Israel Film Festival runs October 29th – November 13th, 2008 at Clearview 62nd & Broadway Cinema, presenting over 36 new Israeli features, documentaries, TV dramas and award-winning student films.

The Israel Film Festival is one of the only film festival that will visit three American cities - Los Angeles, New York and Miami. The 23rd IFF opened in Los Angeles June 11 – 26, and was a huge success. Among the Festival’s L.A. Honorees were Kirk Douglas, Jeff Berg and Carl & Rob Reiner. The Festival continues in New York, October 29 - November 13 and then to Miami, December 9 - 18, 2008.

The Israel Film Festival is presented by IsraFest Foundation, Inc., in association with the Consulate General of Israel in New York. The Festival has been responsible for introducing Israeli life and culture to American audiences through the powerful medium of film, providing a comprehensive intercultural exchange and has brought hundreds of Israeli filmmakers to the United States to share their art. Through the years, more than 900,000 filmgoers across the country have experienced the best of Israeli cinema by viewing more than 800 feature films, documentaries, television dramas and student shorts. The 23rd Israel Film Festival is sponsored by many corporate, foundation and individuals including The Saban Family Foundation, Nu Image/Millennium Films, The Lincy Foundation, Dr. Miriam and Sheldon G. Adelson, EL AL Israel Airlines, Israel Film Fund, Panavision, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, New Regency Productions, Maurice Marciano Family Foundation, The Schecter Foundation, Israel Tourist Ministry and many others.

For further information regarding the 23rd Israel Film Festival, including ticket, group sales and/or sponsorship information, please call 1-877-966-5566 or visit www.israelfilmfestival.com.