# Daniel Wachsmann

Daniel Wachsmann (born 1946) is an Israeli filmmaker, writer, producer and director, best known for his critically acclaimed film "Khamsin".

## Biography

Daniel Wachsmann was born in 1946 in Shanghai, Republic of China, to Jewish parents who had fled Nazi persecution during World War II. In 1948, his family immigrated to Israel with him and he grew up in Tel Aviv.
After serving in the Israeli Defense Forces Wachsmann studied theater at the Beit Zvi School of Performing Arts and later pursued film studies in London.
Wachsmann began his career in filmmaking in the 1970s, initially directing two short films. In 1974, his short film "My Father" won the first prize at the International Film Festival in Mannheim, Germany. Three years later, his short film "Eliora" received a citation at the International Short Film Festival in Oberhausen.
In 1979, Wachsmann made his feature film debut with "Transit", which was selected for the official competition at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival.
In 1980 he directed the film "Silver Rose" and in 1981 he directed the film "David's Violin".
His breakthrough came in 1982 with "Khamsin", a drama addressing the complexities of Arab-Jewish relations in Israel. The film was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, won the Silver Panther Prize at the Locarno Film Festival, received an Honorable Mention at the Strasbourg Film Festival, and it was later selected by Israeli film critics as the Film of the Decade.
In 1986 Wachsmann directed the short film "Red Cow" which was showcased at international film festivals. His 1989 feature "The Intended" won the prestigious Wolgin Prize at the Jerusalem Film Festival and was also screened at the Cannes and Shanghai International Film Festivals.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s Wachsmann continued producing films that explored Israeli history, culture, and political conflicts. In 1996, his film "Song of the Galil" won the Golden Anchor Prize at the Haifa International Film Festival and the Silver Hugo Prize at the Chicago International Film Festival. The following year, he directed the documentary "The Stone and the Olive Tree", which explored the impact of the First Intifada. In 1999, his film "Menelik, the Black Jewish Prince" won the New Century Prize at the Jerusalem Film Festival. In 2000 he directed the film "Across From the Forests". In 2002 he directed the film "Bar Mitzvah", and in 2004 he directed the film "Letters from Rishikesh". His most recent film, "Acre Dreams", was released in 2018.

## Filmography
### Director

| Year | International title | Hebrew title | Notes |
| 1974 | My Father | Avi, אבי | Short film. First Prize at the International Film Festival, Mannheim, Germany |
| 1977 | Eliora | Eliora, אלוירה | Short film. Citation at International Short Film Festival Oberhausen |
| 1979 | Transit | Transit, טרנזיט | Formal competition at the 30th Berlin International Film Festival |
| 1980 | Silver Rose | Vered HaKesef, ורד הכסף | |
| 1981 | David's Violin | Kinor David, כינור דוד | |
| 1982 | Khamsin | Hamsin, חמסין | Nominated in competition for Oscar Foreign Films; Silver Panther Prize at the Locarno Film Festival, Switzerland; Honorable Mention at Strasbourg; selected by Israeli film critics as the Film of the Decade |
| 1986 | Red Cow | Para Aduma, פרה אדומה | Short film. Shown in international film festivals |
| 1989 | The Intended | HaMeyu'ad, המיועד | Wolgin Prize, Jerusalem Film Festival; Cannes Film Festival; Shanghai International Film Festival |
| 1996 | Song of the Galilee | Shirat HaGalil, שירת הגליל | Golden Anchor Prize, Haifa International Film Festival; Silver Hugo Prize, Chicago International Film Festival |
| 1997 | The Stone and the Olive Tree | HaEven VeEtz HaZayit, האבן ועץ הזית | Documentary about the First Intifada |
| 1999 | Menelik, the Black Jewish Prince | Menelik Nasich Yehudi Shachor, מנליק נסיך יהודי שחור | New Century Prize, Jerusalem Film Festival |
| 2000 | Across From the Forests | Mul HaYaarot, מול היערות | |
| 2002 | Bar Mitzvah | Bar Mitzvah, בר מצווה | |
| 2004 | Letters from Rishikesh | Michtavim MeRishikesh, מכתבים מרישיקש | TV movie |
| 2018 | Acre Dreams | Akko Chalomot, עכו חלומות | |

### Writer

| Year | International title | Hebrew title |
| 1979 | Transit | Transit, טרנזיט |
| 1982 | Khamsin | Hamsin, חמסין |
| 1989 | The Intended | HaMeyu'ad, המיועד |
| 1996 | Song of the Galilee | Shirat HaGalil, שירת הגליל |
| 1999 | Menelik, the Black Jewish Prince | Menelik Nasich Yehudi Shachor, מנליק נסיך יהודי שחור |
| 2002 | Bar Mitzvah | Bar Mitzvah, בר מצווה |
| 2004 | Letters from Rishikesh | Michtavim MeRishikesh, מכתבים מרישיקש |
| 2018 | Acre Dreams | Akko Chalomot, עכו חלומות |

### Actor

| Year | International title | Hebrew title | Role |
| 1978 | Rockinghorse | Sus-Etz, סוסעץ | |
| 1982 | Big Shots | Mitachat La'af, מתחת לאף | |
| 1984 | On a Clear Day You Can See Damascus | Beyom Bahir Ro'im Et Damesek, ביום בהיר רואים את דמשק | Terrorist |
| 2018 | Acre Dreams | Akko Chalomot, עכו חלומות | Dani |