The film "At Li Lila" won the Haifa Culture Foundation prize for the best film in the Israeli feature film competition at the 30th Haifa International Film Festival
Israeli feature film competition
The film "At Li Lila" won the Haifa Culture Foundation prize for a feature film in the amount of NIS 100,000. Director: Asaf Korman, screenplay: Liron Ben Shloush, producers: Haim Meckleberg, Esti Yaakov-Meckleberg. Co-producers: Moshe Adri, Leon Adri, Yigal Moghrabi.
The film tells the story of Hali, who dedicates her life to the care of her sister Gabi, who suffers from mental retardation. When she is forced to move Gabi to a daycare center, a space opens up that allows a man to enter her life, but the complex relationship with the nurse creates a sick triangle. From the judges' reasoning: The film was delicately woven with many subtleties about a sensitive portrait of a very complex relationship.
The movie "Emek" won the prize for debut feature film by the late Anat Farhi, in the amount of NIS 30,000. Directed by: Sophie Artos. Production: David Mandil, Moshe Adri, Leon Adri. Three sensitive teenagers from Migdal Ha'emek have to deal with violence at home and at school. A story of friendship in which the world of teenagers is revealed; A world where the desire to die or kill and the desire to live define their destiny. From the judges' reasoning: The film reveals realistic situations of violence in the Israeli periphery, while maintaining the right pace, fine cinematic language and measured editing.
From the judges' reasoning: the script succeeds in drawing a story about the bride, compassion and love in all their forms.
The award for actress in a feature film Nu Image LA donation in the amount of 10,000 NIS was awarded to actress Livna Finkelstein for her performance in the film "Mita Tova". Directed by: Sharon Maimon and Tal Garnit. Producers: Haim Meckleberg, Esti Yaakov-Meckleberg, Talia Kleinhandler, Esnat Handelsman Keren, Thanasis Kratanos. From the judges' reasoning: Livna Finkelstein plays a fragile character who moves convincingly on the fine line between comedy and tragedy. Her acting sums up the entire drama.
Israeli documentary film competition
Jury: Yaron Katbori (producer and director - Israel), Anat Yota Tzuria (director and screenwriter, Israel), Sebastian Metz (director, Germany).
The film 'Fatlatal' won the prize for an Israeli documentary film named after the late Rosalia Katz, in the amount of NIS 30,000 donated by Shimon Roth. A film by Avi Belkin and Avi Levy.
No landscape is free from a story. We are embarking on a contemporary sailing trip along the winding length of the Yarkon, from its origin in Rosh Ha'Ain to the mouth of the sea in Tel Aviv, in order to tell the unknown story of its waters. From the judges' reasoning: We found the film to be a complete and complex work with a bold cinematic language, and a unique aesthetic and artistic vision. With the help of the story of Nahal Yarakon, the creators bring the story of the State of Israel about its great dreams, the downfalls and the attempts to correct them.
A journey between acceptance, heroin, chaos and redemption. At the age of 14, Yaakov Yanai Lane ran away to the streets of Tel Aviv and became a drug addict, eventually finding himself a filmmaker in Jerusalem narrating his life's journey on film. This is a film that investigates and strives towards the concept of "home". Judges' reasoning: The film sensitively describes a relationship between a mother and her son, a reality of searching for identity in a unique and personal visual style.
Short film and animation competition
The jury: Yaron Shin (Wizo Haifa Academic Center), Yael Perlov (producer and editor), Prof. Roni Oren (illustrator and animation director).
A grant from the Mekur Foundation for Cinema and Television by Sharon Amrani, for an independent short film
NIS 10,000 was awarded to the film "Broken Branches". Directed by: Ayla Shrot
From the jury's reasoning: a documentary work that is impressive in its scope and combines animation as a cinematic tool for everything. Dive into a magical and personal world dealing with a universal theme.
A commendation for an independent short film was awarded to the film "Raw". Directed by: Alon Sahar
From the jury's reasoning: A surprising and kicking work that examines a charged subject with unconventional means and raises questions about filmmaking and the points of departure between the authentic documentary and the staged dramatics.
A grant from the Mekur Foundation for Cinema and Television, named after Sharon Amrani, for a short film created in film schools in Israel, in the amount of 10,000 NIS was awarded to the film "Full-time". Director: Mia Sarfati. Tel Aviv University, Department of Cinema and Television.
From the jury's reasoning: a microcosm full of expression and depth, which takes place between two people trapped in one room, and the viewer's feelings are overwhelmed by screenwriting virtuosity. With a sharp and precise direction and a fine and restrained acting - the film succeeds in stirring the emotions and surprising the viewer.
A commendation was awarded to a short film created in film schools in Israel: "I remember we kissed" directed by: Naif Hamud. Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, Jerusalem. From the jury's reasoning: sensitivity and delicacy, tension and implied eroticism staged with a confident hand, spectacular photography and sound work and fine editing create a significant, authentic and compassionate moment.
The Eli Gelfand Prize for an animated film in the amount of NIS 5,000 was awarded to the film "LUMA".
Directed by: Carmel Ben Ami, Sohini Tal. Bezalel, Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem
From the judges' reasoning: the fine design of the characters and the environment, the sensitive direction of the animated characters, and the polished and poignant script, create a statement that deals with the invasion of the digital world into the intimate space of home and family, through means full of fantasy and inspiring artistically.
A commendation was awarded to the animated film: "A Way of Being" directed by Kobi Wegman
Bezalel, Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem - Animation Unit.
The jury's reasoning: a precise and beautiful work that succeeds in describing an anonymous and symbolic character and animating it with humanity, sensitivity, precision and a superbly made technique.
The Golden Anchor Competition for Mediterranean Cinema
The jury: Knut Elsterman (media person, film critic and writer - Germany), Esti Yaakov-Mecklberg (producer - Israel), Tova Asher (editor and screenwriter - Israel).
The Golden Anchor Award for the outstanding film shot in the countries of the Mediterranean Basin was awarded to the film 'Winter Year'. Directed by: Nuri Bilga Jaylan.
"Winter Sleep", winner of the Palme d'Or at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, takes place during a snowy night in the middle of winter, in a small hotel in the center of Anatolia. Aydin, the owner of the hotel, lives there with his young wife, who is not happy in her marriage to him, and with his divorced sister. From the judges' reasoning: the film reflects the social structure of the rural class in a personal and touching way. This is a special masterpiece that uses the landscape as another character. A complex universal film that deals with morality, the loss of dreams and imagination and penetrates deeper and deeper into the depths of the human soul.
A commendation in the Golden Anchor competition was awarded to the film 'Enemy of the Class'. Directed by: Rock Bicek.
In one classroom in Slovenia the atmosphere is difficult. The beloved teacher goes on maternity leave and her place is taken by Robert, a cold and stern teacher. When the quiet and shy Sabina commits suicide without leaving a letter or an explanation, a rebellion breaks out. From the judges' reasoning: the classroom is a human laboratory of teenagers, who investigate essential questions about the meaning of life in an intense and mesmerizing way.
Fedora contest
The panel of judges: Gidi Orsher (film critic, Gali IDF - Israel), Yehuda Stav (film critic, Yedioth Ahronoth - Israel), Dubrovka Dukic (film critic, Serbia)
The prize of the "Directors of Tomorrow" competition sponsored by "Fedora" - the European and Mediterranean Film Critics Association - was won by the film "Whale" by the Russian director Andrey Zabigintsev. From the judges' reasoning: The Fedora Award for the best international film is awarded to the film Leviathan for its metaphorical narrative, mythological aspects and visual power.
The "Fedora" award for artistic achievement in an Israeli feature film was won by the film "At Li Lila" by the director Assaf Korman. The judges' reasoning: The judges noted the exceptional artistic and human achievements of the script, acting, cinematography, artistic design and direction of the film.
A commendation from the European Film Critics Association "Fedora" was awarded to the Israeli film "Manpower" by director Noam Kaplan. From the judges' reasoning: for the subtle representation of four individuals longing for belonging.
Competition between Israeliness and Judaism
A new international competition whose films deal with the interrelationships, conflicts and reciprocity between these two concepts. The jury: Dr. Ariel Friedman (Israel, Head of the Department of Communication at Oranim - the Academic College of Education), Dr. Marcus Zilber (Israel, Head of the Department of Multidisciplinary Studies at the University of Haifa) Helen Schumann (France, journalist and author)
The Tobias Spencer prize for the best film in the "Between Israelis and Judaism" competition in the amount of 20,000 NIS was awarded to the film 'Felix and Meira' by director Maxim Giraud.
Mira, a young married woman from the Orthodox Jewish community of Montreal, finds a hint of freedom from the shackles of religion through the connection with Felix, a young man who is grieving the death of his father. From the judges' reasoning: The film conveys in a gentle, restrained way and in a fascinating cinematic language the complexity of life in a closed and traditional community in the face of the winds blowing from the new world. The end of the film leaves the taste of the dilemmas, questions and possible solutions and does not offer a single answer.
A commendation in the "Between Israeliness and Judaism" competition was awarded to the film "Blind Hero - Otto Weidt's Love". Directed by: Kai Christiansen.
The exciting docu-drama brings the true story of Otto Weidt, the 'unknown Schindler' who saved Jews from the Nazi death camps. Weidt went himself to Auschwitz to save his secretary. From the judges' reasoning: "A direction that cleverly and rhythmically sews together archive footage, documentary testimony and a feature film; presents fascinating characters and poses moral questions.
In the 59 SECONDS competition for mobile films initiated by Alon Daum and Doron Weizman from the company
SO CREATIVE under the auspices of Orange, the film "One minute from you" by the creator Ariel Cohen won the judges' prize of NIS 10,000. The film won the audience favorite award on behalf of the Orange company
DOWN THE DRAIN by the creators Lior Elam and Lior Menela who won an iPhone 6 device
More photos from the graduation ceremony
