The Montpelier Mediterranean Film Festival?s first prize went to the Israeli film ?Deperado Square?(?Kikar HaHalomot?), written by Benny Torati and directed by Dan Tourgeman. A panel of judges, headed by Tunisian director Mofira Talatli and including French author Michelle Gazier, Yugoslavian producer Zuran Tassik and Spanish journalist Roman Gubran, selected the film from among candidates from ten different Mediterranean countries (Armenia, France, Lebanon, Morocco, Slovenia, Italy, Romania, Spain, Turkey and Israel). The Festival has been held in France since 1979 and the last Israeli film to have won first prize at the Festival was ?Golem BaMa?agal?, in 1993.
?Desperado Square? tells the story of Nissim Mandabon, who faces family strife while trying to carry out an order given to him by his father in a nightmare he has on the anniversary of his father?s death. Benny Torati, born in 1956 in the Hatikva neighborhood in Tel Aviv, worked for the Golan-Globus studios from 1985 through 1992, during which time he created a documentary film that served as the inspiration for his current film.
?Desperado Square? tells the story of Nissim Mandabon, who faces family strife while trying to carry out an order given to him by his father in a nightmare he has on the anniversary of his father?s death. Benny Torati, born in 1956 in the Hatikva neighborhood in Tel Aviv, worked for the Golan-Globus studios from 1985 through 1992, during which time he created a documentary film that served as the inspiration for his current film.