Cinema South Film Festival - Celebrating 25 Years In Sderot With Netflix Premiere, Leading Israeli Filmmakers And Stories From The Western Negev

The anniversary program brought together established filmmakers and emerging voices, with a particular focus on creators from Sderot and the western Negev and their stories of life in the three years since October 7th, 2023. For a quarter of a century, the festival has provided a vibrant platform for independent filmmaking, new talent and diverse voices.

This year's milestone carried special meaning: as the western Negev continues its journey of recovery and renewal, the festival's enduring presence in Sderot reflects the region's cultural vitality and Sapir's role as an academic and cultural anchor.

The festival opened on November 1st with a special event in collaboration with Netflix: the world premiere of the first two episodes of the second season of Bros (Ba'esh Uvamayim), the Israeli comedy-drama series created by and starring Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir. The creators took part in a conversation with the audience before the screening. Victor Rouliere, Senior Manager, Global Affairs, France & Israel at Netflix, also attended.

On November 2nd, the festival hosted a special evening dedicated to Swiss filmmaker Thomas Imbach, in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland in Israel. During his visit, two of his films were screened, and he took part in a conversation with the audience and gave a masterclass.

The festival's closing day, November 5th, celebrated 25 years of Cinema South and was dedicated to graduates of Sapir College's School of Audio and Visual Arts. It featured a masterclass with Oshrit Sarusi and Chen Almaliah, graduates of the school and creators of HaPashuta, one of Israel's most successful and widely discussed series, and two "Half a Jubilee" programs showcasing eight award-winning films from the New Cinema South Competition's 25-year history. The programs also marked the launch of Negba, a new development incubator for filmmakers in southern Israel. The day continued with a live performance by Eretz Tropit Yafa in the stone plaza of the Sderot Cinematheque.

The day also featured the awards ceremony of the New Cinema South Competition, which showcases films by the school's graduates. The festival closed with What Does She Think She's Doing? (Ma Hi Choshevet Le'atzma?), directed by Dr. Iris Zaki, head of the school's master's program. The film follows four friends who have chosen to live without children and who answer the world's questions about that choice with honesty and humor.

The broader festival program included new films by Sapir graduates, premieres of Israeli television productions, a tribute to two-time Ophir Award–winning editor Nili Feller, and works by filmmakers from the western Negev exploring life in the region since October 7th.

"Twenty-five years of Cinema South Festival reflect the deep connection between Sapir and the western Negev and the college's role as a center of creativity and culture in the region," said Professor Nir Kedar, President of Sapir College. "In the three years since October 7, the importance of giving a platform to local creators and the stories of our communities has become even clearer. Alongside meetings with local and international creators, we continue to invest in the next generation of filmmakers in southern Israel, as part of our commitment to the growth of the region and to the future of the people who choose to live, learn and create here."

Rani Blair-Elkabetz, head of Sapir College's School of Audio and Visual Arts and Chair of the festival, said: "For 25 years, Cinema South has provided a home for filmmakers who explore the connections between personal stories, artistic creation and the realities of life in the western Negev. This year's festival brought together generations of graduates and emerging creators, and highlighted the power of cinema to tell the stories of our region and give them a wider audience."