Phillipe Lacote and Nadav Lapid win $80,000 between them at Jerusalem Film Festival Lab; Ehud Bleiberg to produce Lacote’s Run.

Ivory Coast director Phillipe Lacote and Israeli director Nadav Lapid have picked up $80,000 between them at the pitching event of the first Sam Spiegel Jerusalem International Film Lab.

Lacote’s first feature script Run was awarded a production grant of  $50,000, while Lapid’s second feature script The Kindergarten Teacher got $30,000.

Ehud Bleiberg is on board to produce Lacote’s feature.

An additional prize of $25,000 was granted by the Jerusalem Film and Television Fund to Clay, Chaim Elbaum’s first full length feature, for an outstanding script which is set in Jerusalem.

“I am excited twice,” said winner Philippe Lacote. “A first time, because I am the first African to ever participate in any of the four labs. And a second time, because the prize will help me to bring the story of the Ivory Coast to the international cinema, for the first time with significant international support”.

Jury chairman Olivier Père commended the winning writer-directors for “special urgency, a unique voice, originality and artistic courage”.

Other jurors were Georges Goldenstern, Vibeke Windlov, Marit van den Elshout, Michael Weber, Maya Amsellem and Tzvika Kertzner.