Israeli film 'Bethlehem' wins top awards

HAIFA, Israel, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- "Bethlehem" won the top prize at Israel's Ophir Awards and will be the country's entry in the foreign language film race for an Academy Award, officials said.

The film won an array of prizes in Haifa Saturday night at the Ophir Awards, Israel's version of the Oscar awards, including best picture, best director, best screenplay and actor Tzahi Halevy was named best supporting actor, The Jerusalem Post said.

The film directed by Yuval Adler has won prizes at film festivals around the world including the Venice Film Festival, the newspaper said.

The screenplay written by Yuval Adler and Palestinian co-writer Ali Waked depicts the relationship between an Israeli Shin Bet security officer and a Palestinian informant, who is the younger brother of a Fatah al-Aksa Martyrs Brigade commander in Bethlehem during the second intifada.

The Oscar nominations for best foreign language film Oscar will be announced in January.