(haipo) Despite the war and the challenges, 90 students from the Film, Media and Podcasting major at the Eironi H. School in Haifa, from the SA cycle, completed their studies and produced 19 original films. The graduation ceremony was held on Thursday, June 4, 2026, at the Haifa Cinematheque, with the participation of students, their families, educational staff and guests.
Record number of graduates in a challenging year
This year, the program marked a particularly impressive achievement, with a record number of 90 students graduating. This came after a particularly challenging year, in which the war interrupted the continuity of learning and affected the students' daily lives. Despite the difficulties, the program's graduates managed to produce no fewer than 19 films, both feature and documentary, dealing with a wide range of social and personal issues.
The film "Still There" – a human look at soldiers' post-traumatic stress
Among the films produced, the feature film stood out in particular. "Still there", produced by four students:
Director – Noam Tressar-Abs
Photographer – Mika Atias
Producer – Noam Ofir
Editor – Reut Salz
The film tells the story of Oz, a soldier who struggles with flashbacks and nightmares following his experiences in the war and is unable to function in everyday life. Along with dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and a breakup with his partner, he enlists the help of his best friend Guy and professional therapy to understand what happened on that fateful day that changed his life. The film deals with sensitivity and courage in dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and offers viewers a human and complex look at the consequences of war.
Reut Salz, the film's editor, said: ""We wanted to represent in a credible way the experience of people dealing with post-trauma following the battles. Watching the content and testimonies of the combat survivors helped us understand their inner world, their alertness, fear and daily coping. Beyond making the film, we learned to look at people around us differently, and to understand that sometimes behavior that seems abnormal hides deeper pain."
Pride in the Haifa education system
Moshiko Heckman, Director of the Upper Division and Coordinator of the Film and Media Major, noted that "our film major has many successes every year in Israel and around the world. The successes stem from the students' ability to delve deeper, to show maturity, openness and creativity, and to work well in production teams. No less than this, they stem from the committed and professional teaching staff, who invest their entire lives in the students and are very proud of the products. I expect the film 'Still There' to be a great success at upcoming festivals thanks to the story, the work invested in its construction, and its great relevance to the reality of our lives."
Mayor of Haifa, Yona Yahav, said that "our young men and women have proven the power of creativity to connect people, provoke thought, and give voice to important issues." He also added: "This is an admirable achievement, indicative of talent, perseverance, and an extraordinary creative spirit. I am proud of the students, the educational staff, and the parents."
Ilana Truk, Head of the Education, Culture and Sports Administration at the Haifa MunicipalityShe added: "The films presented this year are impressive evidence of the ability of young people to transform the complex reality around them into a meaningful, sensitive and thought-provoking creation. The fact that after a year full of challenges, the students managed to express such deep voices, stories and emotions is a source of great pride for the Haifa education system."