Sderot Film Festival Celebrates Quarter Century With New Incubator and Local Premieres

The Sderot Cinematheque is set to host a significant milestone this month as the Cinema of the South Festival reaches its 25th anniversary. Running from November 1 to 5, the event will feature a diverse lineup of television premieres, international and Israeli films, and interactive sessions with creators. The celebration is not just a look back at the past, but also a forward-looking initiative that includes the launch of a new incubator for young filmmakers from the region.

The festival originated through the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir Academic College. For this 25th edition, the organizers are placing a specific spotlight on local talent. The program will highlight filmmakers from Sderot and the western Negev. Many of these creators are producing work that directly addresses the experiences of residents in the three years following the Hamas-led massacres of October 7. This focus on recent history provides a contemporary lens on the region's resilience and daily life.

The opening evening promises to be a high-profile event, featuring a stage discussion with Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir. They will talk about their Netflix series, Bros. Following the conversation, the audience will get the world premiere of the first two episodes of the show's second season. The series follows two childhood friends who are both Beitar Jerusalem fans and co-owners of a pub in Jerusalem. Their friendship is tested as they navigate a series of personal and professional crises.

Beyond the opening night, the festival offers advance screenings of several notable productions. One such title is Motherland, a comedy-drama created by Yael Hedaya for KAN. The cast includes Dana Ivgy, Sasson Gabay, and Alma Zack. Viewers will also have the chance to see Whose Daughter Are You?, a KAN documentary series directed by Efrat Shalom Danon and Keren Shayo. The production, led by Osnat Trabelsi, explores the lives of Mizrahi women in Israel.

Another key session will bring together the creative team behind the popular KAN series, The Pshute. Director Dan Messer will join creators Bar Elmaliach Donzov, Chen Rotman, and Oshrit Sarusi for a discussion. This provides an opportunity for fans to engage directly with the minds behind the show. The festival will also screen eight winning films from previous years, offering a retrospective look at the quality of work that has been recognized in past editions.

The event will conclude with the preview of Iris Zaki's film, What Was She Thinking?. The movie explores the decision to not have children within the context of Israeli society. Zaki, who heads the master's degree program at the school, is using this closing slot to also honor editor Nili Feller. Feller is a two-time Ophir Award winner, and the tribute will include screenings of four films she edited. It will also feature a master class and meetings with prominent figures such as Ari Folman and Dani Rosenberg.

Alumni of the Sapir program will also have a platform to showcase their latest projects. Efrat Corem will present Heart of Gold, which stars Chen Amsalem, Menashe Noy, and Israel Atias. Shir Houri Abu will show the documentary 100 Gates, while local filmmaker Tal Avitan will screen Carlos Outside the Lines. The latter is a story about a children's soccer coach in Kiryat Gat. These presentations underscore the ongoing output of graduates from the local arts school.

The regional programming extends to a collection of five short films titled Sketches of the Soul. Created by filmmakers from the western Negev, these pieces examine life in the aftermath of October 7. The festival will also host the premiere of My Beloved Gourama, directed by Sami Shalom Chetrit. This film follows the life of his father in both Morocco and Israel, adding an international dimension to the local narrative.

International participation is also a key component of the schedule. Swiss director Thomas Imbach will present two of his films and lead a master class, a collaboration facilitated with the Swiss Embassy. This global connection complements the local focus of the event. The closing ceremony will officially launch Negba, a new incubator designed to support young filmmakers from the south. Interested parties can find further details on the festival's page within the Sapir Academic College website.