GIVEAWAY: ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL OPENING NIGHT

Social and political commentaries; tales of love, loss and redemption; stories of history, friendship and unlikely alliances: 2013 sees the AICE Israeli Film Festival celebrating its first decade in Australia with one of its strongest programs yet.

We have one double pass to the Opening Night of the 10th AICE Israeli Film Festival in Adelaide on 6.15pm Thursday 15 August at Palace Nova Eastend Cinemas up for grabs! Official pre-film reception featuring wines courtesy of Devil’s Corner, canapés & live entertainment followed by the Adelaide premiere of The Ballad of the Weeping Spring.

The final wishes of a dying man result in Josef Tawila (Uri Gavriel) traversing the northern Israeli countryside on a mission. He travels in search of the best musicians to perform the world premiere of The Ballad of the Weeping Spring.

Written more than 20 years earlier when Tawila led the hugely successful Turquoise Ensemble, the music was never performed. Tragedy struck and the band was torn apart the night it was first to be played.. Having abandoned playing as a result, the initially reluctant Tawila is drawn into his past as he searches out oud (Middle Eastern stringed instrument), tar (Persian lute), kamancheh (Persian fiddle) and voice.

Described as an entertaining, melodramatic fairytale by Screen Daily, Beni Torati’s The Ballad of the Weeping Spring sees Tawila travelling a timeless Israel in this homage to the music of the region and a Hollywood of the past. Possibly the first Felafel Western, certainly an Israeli Magnificent Seven, the multi-award winning feature echoes classic cinema in telling a story of love, loss and redemption. And then there’s that music…

The 10th AICE Israeli Film Festival runs in Adelaide from Thursday 15 - Wednesday 21 August. Visit their website for details.

To win: Email your name and the subject line 'BALLAD' to marketing@adelaidefilmfestival.org by 5pm, Thursday 15 August. This is first in, best-dressed so be quick!