Festival's
Competition Winners
Jury:
Prof. Dan Geva (Chair), Yariv Mozer, Sigal Rosh
Shorts Feature Competition: First Place
Yuri’s Galaxy
Director: Noemie Biegeleisen
Producer: Sylvain Biegeleisen
Jury Statement:
Against the background of one of the greatest tragedies of our time, the film succeeds in creating a moving, touching allegory, saturated with magic, creativity, and courage that illuminates the war in Ukraine in a humane and unusual light. The jury wishes to praise the extraordinary acting of the group of children, the heroes of the film.
Shorts Documentary Competition: First Place
An Attack Without a Terrorist
Director and Producer: Roni Livneh
Jury Statement:
The film sheds an enlightening factual light on an explosive affair that agitated Israeli society and succeeds in discovering the truth, despite the attempts to hide the facts by law enforcement officials, while demonstrating a fine journalistic investigation.
Students Feature Competition: First Place
Siba
Director: Donna Hawa
Producer: Liya Elbashan
Jury Statement:
"Siba" brings to the screen a story about the prohibition of love in Arab society with sensitivity, tenderness, compassion and authenticity. The film depicts an explosive situation and manages to create great intimacy with complex characters while evoking renewed thought and deep identification in the viewer's heart.
Shorts Feature Competition: Special Mention
In Service of the King
Director: Brachi Haisherik, Producers: Alona Refua, Roni Shamiss, Maya Fischer, Gal Greenspan, Roi Kurlan, Boaz Vexler
Jury Statement:
The film gives an intimate glimpse into a closed world, far from the eye. A minor plot in a small room develops a heart-wrenching drama that honestly and sensitively illuminates the world of women in ultra-Orthodox society. The jury would like to praise the acting of the two main actors, for their meticulous and realistic work.
Shorts Documentary Competition: Special Mention
Burning Democracy
Director: Yaniv Berman
Producer: Josh Yablon
Jury Statement:
"Burning Democracy" is awarded Special Mention for its commitment to historical and social documentation, in real time, and for having the courage to be with a camera near the dramatic events that shaped the story of the State of Israel in 2023.
Students Feature Competition: Special Mention
Father's Son
Director and Producer: Nadan Pines
Jury Statement:
"Son of" is awarded Special Mention for its sophisticated direction, meticulous production, and mastery of the art of cinematic storytelling that bring to the screen a poignant social parable for the problem of corruption in Israeli politics. The story of the initiation of the father and the son, as much as it is based on force, creates moral decay - all this directed by a wonderful team of actors who do their best to convey the complex world with sensitivity.
Students Documentary Competition: First Place
88 My Love
Director: Yana Riahi
Producer: Barak Stern
Jury Statement:
The film sweeps viewers into a civil, cultural and political struggle with integrity and professional fairness. The filmmaker conveys the unique charm of the 88FM music radio station struggling to preserve its multi-faceted character through a firm stand on the public's right to independent broadcasting.
Young Creators
Competition
Young Creators Competition: 3rd Place
Keren Or (Ray of Hope)
Branco Weiss, Beit Hashmonai
Guiding Teacher: Itai Shlemberg, Directors: Assaf Amar & Or Oron, Producers: Or Oron, Cinematography: Itai Agmon, Editor: Assaf Amar
Jury Statement:
The winning film is a high-quality and impressive film, both in terms of its content and messages and from a cinematic point of view. The film succeeds in combining a personal story with a broader narrative of a social struggle for victims of sects, using diverse cinematic means. The film succeeds in conveying important and relevant messages to the theme of the festival - solidarity with victims, and a call for joint action for social change and preventing harm to others. And on the other hand, the film has another important message, that being victimized by a cult can happen to anyone.
This film was chosen for first place because it combines important issues with quality film work, it is a film that motivates, and deals with a place of social change and does not focus on the victims. The youth who join the performance are presented as partners in the struggle on the subject, and the combination of many arts adds a layer to the film, the painting, the play, the singing, the performance in protest, all together create a relevant, interesting, high-quality movie on a cinematic level and even exciting.
Young Creators Competition: 2nd Place
The Vengeance
Ort School Gan Yavne
Guiding teacher: Amiram Romem, Director: Ofir Tal, Producers: Ofir Tal, Shai-Lee Mordechai, Cinematographer: Eviyatar Aharon, Editor: Noam Nachaissi
Jury Statement:
The film deals with the important issue of bullying at school, while conveying a message of regret. The script emphasizes two contrasting central characters that shape the conflict well. The casting and camerawork are of high quality, and the direction is creative and interesting.
Young Creators Competition: 1st Place
Silent Cry
Meitarim Branco Weiss High School
Guiding teacher: Talia Jackson, Director, producer and editor: Ariel Ben Aharon, Cinematographer: Noa Grimberg
Jury Statement:
This is an original and high-quality work, which makes interesting use of interviews and dramatic elements to illuminate a complex personal story. The focus on mental health and trauma treatment links the film to an important issue of social solidarity. The film raises awareness of the difficulty experienced by people with mental limitations, and shows that they need society's support, understanding and help.
We appreciate this original work, the cinematography and editing as well as the choice of characters. The involvement of the young filmmaker was authentic and the decision to use actors playing certain scenes based on his research enriched the entire film.