Film Producer Jake Eberts To Receive Award
The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (CFHU) today announced that film producer Jake Eberts, OC, will be the recipient of the Key of Knowledge Award, to be presented on November 28 at the Montreal Science Centre’s IMAX®Theatre. Mr. Eberts will be introduced by multiple award-winning Québec director Denys Arcand.
As the first-ever recipient of the CFHU’s Key of Knowledge Award, Mr. Eberts is being recognized for his dissemination of knowledge through numerous film productions, in addition to his significant philanthropic contributions. Throughout his 35-year film career, Mr. Eberts has helped create many Academy Award-winning films, including Chariots of Fire, Gandhi, Driving Miss Daisy and Dances with Wolves, and such notable documentaries as Prisoner of Paradise, Journey to Mecca and Oceans.
Born, raised and educated in Québec, Mr. Eberts is returning home to introduce his latest project JERUSALEM, filmed in IMAX® 3D. JERUSALEM seeks to enlighten public opinion and knowledge about this historic city, generate understanding among Jews, Christians and Muslims, and encourage tourists to visit the city.
Currently in pre-production, JERUSALEM, to be released in 2013, is a not-for-profit film financed by tax-deductible donations. Approximately half of the film’s $8 million budget has already been raised. A wide variety of tax-deductible sponsorship packages (details available upon request) are available to interested individuals, enterprises and organizations. Proceeds from the release of the film will fund a variety of projects in Jerusalem, including those selected by individual sponsors, through the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
“The Middle East is a region that is often associated with conflict,” says Mr. Eberts. “However, there is a place where people of different faiths and cultures coexist in relative harmony: Jerusalem. Our film aims to foster respect and understanding among people of all faiths, by chronicling a day-in-the-life of three teenagers – one Jewish, one Christian and one Muslim. By adopting an apolitical perspective, we intend to illustrate the city’s extraordinary historical, spiritual, cultural and archaeological wealth. We hope that our film will help advance understanding and tolerance among the peoples of this unique and beautiful city.”
On November 28, Mr. Eberts will present a seven-minute IMAX® 3D trailer for JERUSALEM, as well as rare archival footage of the city. Additionally, a big screen retrospective of his career will be presented. A dessert reception will follow, concluding with a question-and-answer session with Mr. Eberts and fellow JERUSALEM producers Taran Davies, George Duffield and Daniel Ferguson. The event will be co-chaired by Matthew Price-Gallagher and Ari Brojde.
Jake Eberts’ long-time friend and collaborator, Kevin Costner, is the Honorary Chairman of the event. Regrettably, Mr. Costner is shooting on location in Romania and will not be able to attend in person. However, Mr. Costner will introduce Mr. Eberts via a pre-recorded video message to be shown on November 28th.
