Yana's Friends  החברים של יאנה

Prince Music Theater
1412 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Saturday, April 8, 2000, 8:30 pm
The story of Russian immigrants who land in Tel Aviv during the Gulf War. As Scud missiles fly overhead, Yana (Evelyn Kaplun) and her friends wrestle with the problems of immigrants everywhere: language, culture, money, jobs, and love. also play - Nir Levy, Shmil Ben Ari and Mosko Alkalai.
Country: Israel
Release Date: 1999
Time: 90 minutes
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: Hebrew, Russian with English Subtitles
Director: Arik Kaplun
Topics: Immigrants to Israel, Love
Guest Speaker: Evelyn Kaplon, Lead Actress Evelyn Kaplon is an Israeli actress. She won the Ophir Award for Best Lead Actress in the film "Friends of Jana". Kaplon received her first public acclaim when starring in Julie Schelez's "Afula Express", alongside Zvika Hadar and Estee Zackheim. The film won the prestigious Volgin Award at the Jerusalem Festival and won six Israeli Academy Awards. In 1999, Kaplon starred alongside Nir Levy and Musco Alkalay in Eric Kaplon's "Yana's Friends". As with her own past experiences, Kaplon played a young Russian immigrant to Israel living a hard day in the background of the Gulf War. The film won ten Israeli Academy Awards, among them the best film, and Kaplon won the best actress award. Kaplon then won the Best Actress Award at the Philippine Film Festival and the Karlovy Vary Festival.
 
Guest Speaker: Arik Kaplon, Director and Screenwriter Arik Kaplon is an Israeli film director and screenwriter, winner of multiple awards including Best Director and Best Screenwriter at the Israeli Academy Awards Ophir. Kaplon was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. He immigrated to Israel in 1980, and in 1981 began studying film at Tel Aviv University. During his studies, he wrote and directed several films, some short films, and others documentaries. Among his films from that period: "Solo for the Good" (1986), "Migrants" (1987) and "Free Crime" (1990). His most prominent film, "Yana's Friends," was written and directed by Kaplon in 1999.
 
Awards
Winner of 10 Israeli Academy Awards, and Wolgin Prize, Best Feature Film, Jerusalem Film Festival 1999