Tova Ascher

Tova Ascher, also Tova Asher (Hebrew: טובה אשר) is an Israeli film director and film editor.^[1] She edited over 50 films.^[2]

Tova Ascher
טובה אשר
Tova Ascher, 2010
Born	Netanya, Central District, Israel
Nationality	Israeli
Occupation(s)	Film director, Film editor
Years active	1981–present
Notable work	A.K.A Nadia, Time of Favor

Biography

Tova Ascher was born in Netanya. Her sister, Era Lapid [he], is also a film editor. After graduating from the Netanya High School, she moved to Tel Aviv, where she received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and sociology from Tel Aviv University. She is married to Yoni Ascher, a historian at the University of Haifa and they have two children, also involved in the film industry: a daughter (part-time screenwriter) and a son (film director and editor).^[2]

Film career

She began her career as film editor of the Hebrew-language version of Diamonds.^[3] In 2015, The Jerusalem Post described her as one of Israel’s most in-demand film editors.^[4] British magazine Screen Daily describes her as "one of Israel's most respected film editors."^[1] Ascher says her interest in film-making began when Lapid recommended her as an assistant editor in David Perlov's 1972 film The Pill.^[2]

Selected filmography

Films that earned awards for Tova Asher are marked with stars.

• 2015*: A.K.A Nadia (director and screenwriter)
• 2010: The Human Resources Manager (editor)
• 2008: Lemon Tree (film) (editor)
• 2008: Spring 1941 (editor)
• 2006: Three Mothers (2006 film) (editor)
• 2004: The Syrian Bride (editor)
• 2003: No Longer 17 (editor)
• 2000*: ההסדר ("The Arrangement"), English title: Time of Favor (editor)
• 1998: Circus Palestine (editor)
• 1989: One of Us (editor)
• 1988*: Fictitious Marriage [he] (editor)
• 1986: Bar 51 (editor)
• 1986: The Lover (editor)
• 1984: Beyond the Walls (editor)
• 1983: A Married Couple (editor)
• 1982: Noa at 17 (editor)
• 1981: Indian in the Sun [he] (editor)^[5]

Awards and recognition

• 1988: Fictitious Marriage, Silver Lamp Award^{[note 1]} for editing^[6]
• 2000: Time of Favor, Ophir Award for best editing^[7][8]
• 2006: Three Mothers nominated for Ophir Award for best editing
• 2008: Lemon Tree nominated Ophir Award for best editing
• 2015: A.K.A Nadia:
• 2015 Israel Critics’ Forum Award for best feature film at the Jerusalem Film Festival. Jury motivation: "...for a profound and articulate discussion of issues of identity and belonging to a place and a family. The director offers an intricate portrait of a reality that is grounded in separation walls, checkpoints and segregation. The film examines whether one can create oneself anew within a tragic political context, by presenting a fascinating, complex and touching human story."^[9][10]
• 2017 Micki Moore Award (to the Best Narrative Feature Film directed by a woman) at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival^[11]

Notes

1. The "Silver Lamp" Award (Hebrew: פרסי מנורת הכסף) preceded the Ophir Award, see, e.g., a remark in "Actor Yosef Carmon passed away at the age of 88"