Natalie Portman to direct her first feature-length film

JERUSALEM, July 24 (UPI) -- Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman will make her feature-length film directorial debut with "A Tale of Love and Darkness," the Jerusalem Post said.

The Israeli-American star will also act in and write the screenplay for the movie based on Amos Oz's memoir. It is about how Oz's father tried to help his mentally ill mother cope in the 1940s, E! News said.

The project is being funded by a grant from the Jerusalem Film Fund and production is to begin in January, the Post reported.

Portman won an Oscar for her work in the ballet thriller "Black Swan." She has helmed several short films, as well as a segment for the anthology movie "New York, I Love You," E! said.