History
After serving as a judge at the Cannes film festival, Lia van Leer decided to organize a similar event in Israel. Jeanne Moreau, Lillian Gish Warren Beatty and John Schlesinger arrived in Israel to attend the debut.
In 1989, van Leer persuaded American philanthropist Jack Wolgin to set up a competition bearing his name for the best Israeli films. The Wolgin Prize has become the country's most prestigious feature film award.
In 2008, van Leer, 84, stepped down as director of the festival and turned the job over to a new CEO, Ilan de Vries.
Read more about this topic: Jerusalem Film Festival
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