In the early Fifties my father did his Phd at McGill University and so after my birth in Jerusalem, my first two years were spent in Montreal. Coming back in 2004 was a sort of homecoming and I even got to meet my childhood nanny who attended the screening of the The Syrian Bride.

Walking through the streets of Montreal I felt completely at home and so when a week later I walked away with all four major awards for my film, it was at once thrilling and natural. Montreal is a great city and has the most wonderful film festival one can imagine simply because as a filmmaker you meet audiences that love films - not an obvious fact in a world full of films being shown on television and declining attendances in the theatres.

So all I can add is my best wishes to the festival, to Serge (who all filmmakers love) and to Dani�le and wish us all another successful 30 years of filmmaking.

All the best,
Eran Riklis

Invit� du Festival en / Festival guest in 2000, 2004

Films pr�sent�s / Films presented:

2000

• TZOMET VULCAN / VULCAN JUNCTION
• Cin�ma du monde : reflets de notre temps / World Cinema: Reflections of Our Time

2004

• HA-KALA HA-SURIT / THE SYRIAN BRIDE / LA FIANC�E SYRIENNE
• Officialle comp�tition / Official competition
• Grand prix des Am�riques / Grand Prix of the Americas
• Prix du public Air Canada / Air Canada People's Choice Award
• Prix de la FIPRESCI / FIPRESCI Prize
• Prix du jury Oecum�nique / Ecumenical Prize