Sderot Cinematheque: 25th Anniversary Program Unveiled

The Sderot Cinematheque will host the 25th edition of the Cinema of the South Festival from November 1 to 5. Organized by the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir Academic College, the event will showcase television debuts, feature films, and interactive sessions with industry professionals.

The festival originated from the Sapir Academic College audio and visual program. This year's schedule emphasizes creators from Sderot and the western Negev region. Several selected works examine daily life in the three years following the October 7 Hamas-led attacks in Israel.

The opening evening on November 1 will feature a discussion with Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir regarding their Netflix series, "Bros." The series depicts two childhood friends and Beitar Jerusalem fans who operate a pub together while facing various personal and professional challenges. Following the talk, the first two episodes of the show's second season will receive their world premiere.

Advance screenings will include "Motherland," a KAN comedy-drama directed by Yael Hedaya. The film stars Dana Ivgy, Sasson Gabay, and Alma Zack. Audiences will also view "Whose Daughter Are You?" a KAN documentary series directed by Efrat Shalom Danon and Keren Shayo about Mizrahi women in Israel. A separate session will host the creative team behind the KAN series "The Pshute," including director Dan Messer and creators Bar Elmaliach Donzov, Chen Rotman, and Oshrit Sarusi.

The festival will conclude with a preview of "What Was She Thinking?" by Iris Zaki, who heads the school's master's degree program. The film explores the decision not to have children within Israeli society. The closing event will also honor Nili Feller, a two-time Ophir Award winner and editor. A tribute segment will screen four films she edited and include a master class with filmmakers Ari Folman and Dani Rosenberg.

Alumni from Sapir Academic College will present new projects. Efrat Corem will show "Heart of Gold," starring Chen Amsalem, Menashe Noy, and Israel Atias. Shir Houri Abu will present the documentary "100 Gates," while Sderot filmmaker Tal Avitan will screen "Carlos Outside the Lines," a story about a children's soccer coach in Kiryat Gat. Eight previous winners from earlier festival editions will also be shown.

Regional programming includes "Sketches of the Soul," a collection of five short films by western Negev creators depicting life after October 7. Sami Shalom Chetrit will premiere "My Beloved Gourama," a film tracing his father's life in Morocco and Israel. Swiss director Thomas Imbach will present two films and lead a master class in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy. The closing ceremony will officially launch Negba, a new incubator designed to support young filmmakers from the southern region.