A Quarter Century of Cinema: 25 Years of Storytelling in Sderot

Twenty-five years of continuous operation define the upcoming milestone for the Cinema of the South Festival. This commemorative edition will unfold from November 1 through November 5 at the Sderot Cinematheque. The program is extensive, offering television debuts, international and local feature films, interactive sessions with directors, competitive showcases, and musical performances.

The event originated under the guidance of the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir Academic College. This year’s lineup places a specific focus on creators from Sderot and the western Negev. Several of the featured works explore the social and personal realities that have persisted for three years since the October 7 attacks by Hamas-led forces.

The opening night will feature a discussion with Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir regarding their Netflix production, Bros. Following the conversation, audiences will witness the global debut of the first two installments from the show’s second season. The narrative follows two long-time friends and devoted Beitar Jerusalem supporters who co-own a local pub. Their bond faces significant strain as they navigate a sequence of personal and professional emergencies.

Pre-viewings will include Motherland, a comedic drama from KAN directed by Yael Hedaya. The cast includes Dana Ivgy, Sasson Gabay, and Alma Zack. Viewers will also have the opportunity to watch Whose Daughter Are You?, a documentary series produced by Osnat Trabelsi and directed by Efrat Shalom Danon and Keren Shayo. This project highlights the experiences of Mizrahi women in the country. Additionally, the team behind the KAN series The Pshute will appear, including director Dan Messer and creators Bar Elmaliach Donzov, Chen Rotman, and Oshrit Sarusi.

The festival will conclude with a look at Iris Zaki’s film, What Was She Thinking?, which addresses the decision to remain childless within Israeli society. Zaki currently leads the master’s degree program at the host school. The final screening serves as a tribute to Nili Feller, an editor who has won two Ophir Awards. This honor will include a showing of four of her edited works, a teaching session, and conversations with directors such as Ari Folman and Dani Rosenberg.

Alumni from Sapir Academic College will return to showcase their latest projects. Efrat Corem will present Heart of Gold, featuring Chen Amsalem, Menashe Noy, and Israel Atias. Shir Houri Abu will screen the documentary 100 Gates, while local filmmaker Tal Avitan will show Carlos Outside the Lines, a story about a youth soccer coach in Kiryat Gat. The program also revisits eight award-winning films from previous iterations of the event.

Regional content includes Sketches of the Soul, a group of five short films by western Negev directors that reflect on life following the October 7 conflict. The premiere of Sami Shalom Chetrit’s My Beloved Gourama will also take place. This film chronicles the life of his father in both Morocco and Israel. Swiss director Thomas Imbach will contribute two films and lead a workshop in partnership with the Swiss Embassy. The final ceremony will introduce Negba, a new incubator designed to support young filmmakers from the southern region.