Who Lives There? Who Lives There? Filmmakers: Omer Ben-David, Vera Grinblat Producer Estee Mecklberg Production Company: 2-Team Productions SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Hebrew Genre: Dark Drama-Comedy Lab Edition: 12 , 2024 LOG LINE An introverted 15-year-old, flees her dysfunctional family into a strict religious boarding school, where she discovers a new home under the wings of a destructive girl. Through them, we enter a world with no good or bad, just survival. SYNOPSIS A dark dramedy about Aya, 15, an introverted cellist who escapes her home to a free of charge religious boarding school, where she only intends to spend one year, until she’ll be accepted to a music school. Aya encounters violence and strict rules, and in order to survive, she befriends Michelle, a charismatic destructive girl. As the two form a new home, an island of sanity, in the midst of the chaos, we enter through them to a world of women, with no good or bad, just survival. DIRECTOR'S NOTE Vera – when I came to the understanding that a home that harms me is not a home, I left to look for another one. In the boarding school I found it - but at what cost? Omer - After hearing Vera's story of how she imagined crazy traumas in homes outside of the school, I related to the girls' humorous desire to normalize reality. Although we try to keep the world realistic, we wish to give the film a fun & formalistic stylized approach - Just as the girls themself try to portray their own reality. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER ○ Omer Ben-David is a writer-director, graduate of Columbia University. Omer’s 6 short films, along with commercial works, screened in Raindance, LA Shorts, Vancouver, earning him an honorable mention at Berlin Music Video Awards, and a Grand Prix at Cannes Lions. ○ Vera Grinblat is a production designer who worked on The Death of Cinema and My Father Too, which premiered in Cannes, and The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem on Netflix. She is a graduate of Beit Berl School of Film and the Bezalel Academy of Art. PRODUCER Estee Mecklberg 2-Team Productions is one of the leading Israeli film production companies focusing on crossover feature films – films with highly artistic content, and outstanding audience appeal. 2-Team’s films have participated in all major international film festivals, including Cannes, Berlin,Tribeca, Venice, Toronto, and Sundance, won numerous international and Israeli awards (including Sundance Grand Jury Prize, Venice Audience Award, Emmy Award and Israeli Academy Best Film Awards) and, at the same time, were successfully distributed in Israel and around the world. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE ○ 2-Team Productions, Tel-Aviv ○ +972 54 4592223 ○ tomer@2-team.com PRODUCTION BUDGET ○ Total budget: 935,000 USD Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

Curtain Call Curtain Call Filmmakers: Elinor Nechemya, Sivan Gal Boico Producers Aurit Zamir, Yoav Roeh Production Company: Gum Films LTD SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Hebrew Genre: Drama Lab Edition: 12 , 2024 LOG LINE Years after estranging herself from her sexually abusive father, Dekel discovers the line between the victim and the perpetrator is finer than she thought. SYNOPSIS Dekel, a fringe director in her mid-thirties, gets a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity- to direct a new cabaret at a renowned repertory theater. Everything runs smoothly until her estranged father is released from jail earlier than expected, and messages her that he is coming to the premiere. Horrified by his unwelcomed reappearance in her life, Dekel confronts him, hoping to finally put this painful chapter of her life behind. But instead, a shameful, unspoken longing for her abusive father resurfaces, forcing her to confront the true nature of her trauma, and the ways in which it shaped her. DIRECTOR'S NOTE The film’s cinematic language is violent and direct, whilst the images created offer a pathway to raw emotions and a deep-seeded sense of longing. The theatrical world serves as an alternative fantasy, a crack through which memories leak into reality. The shifts between the rehearsals’ protected, intimate space,and the grandiose cabaret scenes create tension, disrupting the film’s tone and tempo, mirroring Dekel’s soul. Dekel’s freefall story is also the story of a space changing from a space of enablement, to a space of drowning. And just like the space itself, Dekel’s point of view changes before our eyes, shifting on the elusive continuum between a woman and a child. A continuum which, once accepted, carries the possibility of salvation. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER ○ Elinor Nechemya | Director Elinor Nechemya is a Tel-Aviv based director and screenwriter. Her latest short film If It Ain’t Broke (2021) premiered at the Cannes Film Festival Semaine de la Critique. Her previous short films "Our Hearts Beat Like War" (2020) and "Everlasting Mom" (2017) both premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, and screened in various festivals including Locarno, Sarajevo, and Palm Springs. Alongside "Curtain Call" , Elinor is also working on her feature "Island", which participated in the 2021 Sam Spiegel Film Lab and in the NEXT STEP program of the Semaine de la Critique. ○ Sivan Gal Boico | Screenwriter A graduate of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, Sivan is an active screenwriter, playwright and theater director. Her screenwriting work includes the acclaimed youth series "The Policeman’s Daughter" for TeenNick/YES, and the hit youth series "Full Speed" for TeenNick/HOT. Her short film "Orange" won the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund Development Award, and is due to be produced in 2025. Between 1998-2009 Sivan wrote and directed for theater in Australia. Her works were staged in various theaters and galleries, winning her the Melbourne International Arts Festival Young Playwright Award, as well as a Green Room Award nomination for her play The Cool Room, staged in Melbourne and Sydney. PRODUCERS Aurit Zamir, Yoav Roeh Gum Films is a Tel-Aviv-based production company. Founders and owners, Yoav Roeh and Aurit Zamir graduated from the prestigious Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, and have been in the art and business of making movies for two decades, with a passion for meaningful, genre-bending films. Films include "Delegation" which premiered at Berlinale 2023 and The Future which premiered at Tribeca 2023, as well as the award-winning film "Aisa", starring Shira Haas, which won the Nora Ephron Award at the Tribeca Film Festival 2020 and nine Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film. Series include "The Missing File" (2 seasons for Kan11, sold for US remake) and "For God’s Sake" (Kan 11). Aurit created and wrote "The Truth" (for Kan11). The series sold to Canal+, AMC, Be TV and more. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE ○ Gum Films, Tel Aviv ○ office@gumfilms.com ○ +972 52 6010403 PRODUCTION BUDGET ○Total budget: 1,450,000 USD ○ Confirmed budget and source: 15,000 USD development grant, Israel Film Fund. Participated in the WomanFilms Narrative Film Hub initiated by the New Fund for Cinema & TV Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

The Time Tunnel of Sex The Time Tunnel of Sex Filmmakers: Iftach Illouz Producer Gil Sima Production Company: Sima Films SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Hebrew Genre: Comedy-Drama Lab Edition: 14 , 2026 LOG LINE A young gay man struggling with sexual trauma and addiction, suddenly loses his father in a terror attack. The week of mourning uncovers the intergenerational turmoil running in his family. A comedy-drama exploring the ties between personal and collective scarring, in post war Israel. SYNOPSIS Robbie, a young gay man struggling with sexual trauma and addiction, steals his parents' TV remote in a desperate cry for help. It is wartime, leaving them unable to watch the news. The next day, his father goes out to buy a new remote and is killed in a terror attack. During the week of mourning - the Shiva - Robbie wrestles with overwhelming guilt, finds unexpected comfort in a renewed closeness with his mother, and is drawn into sexual and emotional encounters that threaten his fragile sobriety. DIRECTOR'S NOTE My film confronts life in Israel and the moral dilemmas it entails, exploring how political trauma is inseparable from personal trauma. I believe our reality can no longer be defined by politicians serving interests or manufactured narratives. Instead, my film is a social and political act that seeks to inspire hope: that life in Israel can be better for everyone if we have the courage to confront our collective or personal wounds and demons, and begin to heal. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER Iftach Illouz is a filmmaker and creative director. His short film "Me After Dark" won Best Student Film at the 39th Haifa International Film Festival and screened at the Center for Contemporary Art, Tel Aviv–Jaffa. He is a recipient of grants from the New Fund for Cinema and Television and the Rabinovich Foundation – Israel Cinema Project. Illouz is the Creative Director of Radical, a nonprofit cultural-political hub, and is currently pursuing an M.F.A. at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design. PRODUCER Gil Sima Gil Sima is an independent film & television producer and media entrepreneur with over a decade of industry experience, including film festival management, programming, and artistic direction. His company, Sima Films, is an independent production company founded in 2015. Productions include: "Tropicana", "Taboo – Amos Guttman", "Concerned Citizen", "Mini DV", "Shalall - A Reel War", "Sight", "Hounds", "Set Me as a Seal", "Girl Talk" and more. These films have screened at A-list festivals such as Sundance, Berlinale, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Rotterdam, AFI, and BFI. They have been broadcast and streamed on platforms including: HBO, Amazon Prime Video, Fandor, Arte, Canal+, Yes Docu, Channel 8, Kan 11. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE ○ Sima Films ○ Yehuda Halevi 60, Tel Aviv, Israel ○ boshes87@gmail.com ○ +972-525605044 PRODUCTION BUDGET ○ Total budget: 855,000 USD ○ Confirmed budget and source: 23,000 USD (Private Investor) Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

Gut Feeling Gut Feeling Filmmakers: Gilad Inbar, Benny Fredman Producer Benny Fredman Production Company: Red Films LTD, United King Films, Amir Gedalia Productions SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Hebrew, Arabic Genre: Drama, Thriller Lab Edition: 13 , 2025 LOG LINE Iris is an Israeli secret service operative. Her job is her essence. An unwanted pregnancy sends her into a spiral of panic attacks, putting both her life and her baby’s at risk. SYNOPSIS Iris, a skilled operative in Israel’s Secret Service, faces an unexpected pregnancy by her partner, Dotan, a SWAT officer. The pregnancy exposes long-buried trauma that interferes with her ability to do her job. Despite Dotan’s pleas, she schedules an abortion. During a mission, a panic attack stops her from apprehending one of her informants. When he takes hostages, Iris insists on tracking him down. But Dotan, fully aware of her condition, is determined to pull her out of the field—even at the cost of their relationship. Iris must choose between her identity as a fighter and the instincts of a mother awakening within her. DIRECTOR'S NOTE Iris grew up in the shadow of her father, a heroic soldier killed in action. That grief convinced her never to bring children into a world of loss. But an unexpected pregnancy forces her to choose between her identity as a fighter and the instinct urging her to protect her unborn child. Framed as a thriller, our story follows a female fighter in today’s Israel, searching for hope amid darkness. We both have daughters in the army. The panic that grips Iris is the sum of our daughters’ fears and our own, as their parents. How do you raise a child in a reality where everything can shatter in an instant? ABOUT THE FILMMAKER ○ Gilad Inbar is a director & editor. His directing credits include ”Shlomo Bar– A Musical Documentary” (2022), screened at Docaviv and Krakow, and ”The Hungarian Cube – A Journey with Andre Hajdu” (2013), broadcast on Channel 8. As an editor, Inbar’s credits include Benny Fredman's ”Home” - nominated for Best Editing at the Ophir Awards; Amichai Greenberg's ”The Testament”- screened at Venice IFF and Benny Fredman’s ”Suicide”- distributed by Netflix. Inbar graduated with honors from the Sam Spiegel School. ○ Benny Fredman is a writer & director known for “Home” (2023), winner of multiple Ophir Awards; the suspense miniseries “Suspect” (2015, Channel 10); the provocative series “Everything is Judgeable” (2015, Israel Broadcasting Authority); the feature thriller “Suicide” (2014), The Jerusalem Film Festival. Distributed by Netflix; and the short film “Leak” (2012), screened at festivals in Las Vegas, Miami, and Tacoma. PRODUCER Benny Fredman Red Films is a production company known for producing TV series such as ”Suspect”, and feature films including the Netflix film ”Suicide” and the Ophir Award-winning ”Home”. The company also produces documentaries, such as ”Moving the Embassy”, broadcast on TBN, and ”Poogy’s Last Festival”. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE ○ Red Films LTD / Jerusalem ○ +972543474448 ○ benif123@gmail.com PRODUCTION BUDGET ○ Total budget: 2,100,000 USD ○ Confirmed budget and source: 285,000 USD (Amir Gedalia productions, SE productions) Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

Aranchi and Reem Aranchi and Reem Filmmakers: Timna Rose Perets Producers David Silber, Sivan Cohen, Talia Bernstein Production Company: Metro Communications SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Hebrew, Tigrinya, Arabic Genre: Drama Lab Edition: 11 , 2023 LOG LINE Aranchi and Reem, two teenage African refugees, meet at the beginning of a fateful journey to learn about survival, friendship, and sacrifices in the intimidating and magical streets of south Tel Aviv. SYNOPSIS When Aranchi (13), a charismatic and wild Eritrean refugee with a passion for dance gets kicked out of the school dance show, she feels her life is over. But then she meets Reem (13), an isolated Sudanese girl undergoing a horrible family tragedy, and realizes just how evil life can get. Together, Aranchi and Reem find their way into the crime scene of South Tel-Aviv. In search for freedom and expression, they discover the power of friendship DIRECTOR'S NOTE 10 years ago, I was managing an afterschool program for refugee kids in my neighborhood. Aranchi, Reem and Dillet are some of the kids I witnessed growing up -from toddlers to teenagers, they became a huge part of my life. The film is a window to a world usually unseen, through their eyes, taking place in the neighborhood which taught me to find beauty in unexpected places, and to discover hidden worlds. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER Born in Jerusalem in 1987. Timna Rose Perets is a filmmaker and social activist. Graduated from Minshar School of Art in Tel Aviv. Her short independent film, Daughter of the Bride was screened at Director’s Fortnight, Cannes Film Festival 2016. She now lives between Tel Aviv and the Jerusalem hills, working on a short film and her first feature. PRODUCERS David Silber, Sivan Cohen, Talia Bernstein Metro Communications is an Israeli film production company based in Tel Aviv, specializing in international co-productions of full length feature films. David Silber, Metro's director, together with his partners Moshe and Leon Edery (United King Films) have created an energetic, broad based production organization, and one of the leading production companies in Israel. Metro‘s main titles include Academy award nominee and Silver Bear winner Beaufort (2007), Golden Lion and European Academy Awards winner Lebanon (2009), Tribeca Film Festival winner and Berlin Film Festival Panorama featured Junction 48 (2016), Israeli Academy Awards winner Bana Joon (2015), alongside box office hits such as Avi Nesher‘s The Other Story, the top selling Israeli film of 2018, and This Is Sodom (2010) and Turn Left at the End of the World (2004), two of Israel‘s top grossing films ever. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE Company name, city: Metro Communications LTD. Tel-Aviv, Israel. contact email: Sivan@metrocom.co.il ? contact telephone number: +972-54-320-0035 PRODUCTION BUDGET Production budget in USD: $675,000 Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

Hold Onto Me Hold Onto Me Filmmakers: Myrsini Aristidou Producer Nathalie Dennes Production Company: SCENE PITCH Country: Cyprus Language: Greek Genre: Drama Lab Edition: 9 , 2021 LOG LINE SYNOPSIS It's summer, and 11-year-old Iris is running wild through the streets with her older friend Danae when she learns her estranged father, Aris, is back in town for his own father's funeral. DIRECTOR'S NOTE Director’s Note A police siren shakes us into alert just like an anxiously barking dog. A wave crashes on the decadent shipyard’s shore, just as a horse races to the finish line. Distressed fences, a forced eviction, henchmen and lawyers, petty-theft and quick cash, blood smears, and an estranged father beside the drifting dust, permeate the world of this film; all before the adolescent eyes of defiant Iris. The parallel drawn across the absence of a father, and the lack of boundaries for young Iris thereof, is the primal drive of the story, just as it was for me at that age. Daringly crossing the threshold of physical and emotional boundaries, to merely understand the fragility that holds them together, Iris oscillates through chaos and order as a way of understanding where exactly she stands in this world. Since my early childhood, I couldn’t help but wonder how different my upbringing would be if I had my father around. This feeling of negligence, ambiguously led to my independent seeking self, an explosive temperament ceaselessly challenging the righteousness of authority. A deep-rooted curiosity to traverse things until the end with an innate desire to hold on tight to the reins. My exaggerated self-determination often led to adrenaline highs, full blown chaos, where I thrusted myself to the verge to merely feel something; anything. It was in my adolescent years that I began to know my father, and the acceptance of our bond, even if flawed, has made all the difference. Forever in the breath of my heroine, highlighting her visceral impulsiveness and delicate naiveté, I seek to portray her precarious journey from determination to defeat and finally acceptance; just as this delicate relationship with her father unveils. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER PRODUCER Nathalie Dennes Producer profile Nathalie Dennes, Producer France Producer, France Nathalie Dennes started her career within the Acquisitions department of Studiocanal in Paris before joining 3B Productions, mk2 and contributing to the launching of CG Cinéma where she managed within four years the production of a dozen critically acclaimed films such as Clouds of Sils Maria by Olivier Assayas, Mustang by Deniz Gamze Ergüven or Things to Come by Mia Hansen-Løve. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE Production company profile The Living is a Paris-based production company founded in 2017 by Nathalie Dennes to produce directors of her generation and projects combining delicate aesthetics with worldwide appeal, with a focus on women. The company‘s slate currently includes shorts and features from French and foreign directors awarded in major international film festivals. Dennes partnered with 3B Productions on The Truth by Hirokazu Kore-Eda that premiered in 2019 Venice Film Festival. Production Company The Living, Paris, France ndennes@theliving.fr +33 6 74 39 02 71 PRODUCTION BUDGET Production Budget $1,177M Secured funds $555.582 Cypriot Ministry of Culture; $70.613 ERT (Greek Public Television) Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

ALIYA ALIYA Filmmakers: Dekel Berenson Producers Paul Wesley, Marek Rozenbaum, Alexander Rodnyansky Production Company: SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Hebrew, Russian Genre: Drama Lab Edition: 9 , 2021 LOG LINE Aliya, an 18-year-old immigrant from Ukraine, finds meaning in her recently discovered Jewish identity and patriotism towards her newly adopted country. Training to become a drill sergeant in the Israeli army, she finds it hard to go on with her life, and considers her role in society, and in training young men in the military. SYNOPSIS Aliya, an 18-year-old recent immigrant from Ukraine, finds meaning in her newly discovered Jewish identity and in feelings of patriotism towards her adopted country. Wanting to do her share, she had volunteered to join the Israeli army and now trains to become a drill instructor, where she learns how to turn just out of high-school teenagers into toughened IDF soldiers. Still new in the country and unfamiliar with the nuances of Israeli society, she struggles to fit in and finds herself increasingly isolated, particularly as she intends on being the best soldier in the course. After weeks of intense physical and psychological training at the desert base, her company receives seventy-two hours leave, and Aliya returns to her family in Tel Aviv. At home, Aliya is confronted by her mother, who is much less enthusiastic than her about the family's move to Israel, and especially with her daughter's decision to join the military. Determined to have fun, Aliya heads into the city for a night out but ends up being assaulted by her date. After a turbulent and unsettling weekend at home, Aliya must return to the military base but struggles to complete her course as she re-evaluates her values, beliefs, and place in Israeli society. DIRECTOR'S NOTE In many ways, Aliya is an autobiographical film. I left my home country of Israel at the age of 21, days after completing my mandatory three years of service in the Israeli Defense Forces. The reasons I left are complex, yet they primarily have to do with my disenchantment with many of the values and beliefs I was brought up with, both social and political. Inversely, Aliya, who discovered as a teenager that she was Jewish, immigrates to Israel with her family so she could join the military. In its heart, deeply personal, Aliya is a coming of age story, yet it is one that also encapsulates the narrative of an entire country, in which interpersonal relationships are a metaphor for violence between nations and people. A militarized country, one which is in a constant state of war, is inherently violent, not only towards its adversaries but towards its own people as well. Put simply, the violence one inflicts upon others always ends up being inflicted upon oneself. While taking place in Israel, Aliya is a universally important and timely film that touches on themes that concern all people, regardless of race, gender, or background. Moreover, it is a story that is personal to me, and a strong reflection of my values as they relate to nationalism, religion, hierarchies, authority, and power. These are themes that I’ve explored for almost two decades, since my days in Budapest studying towards a Master’s degree in International Relations. I hope that by turning these cerebral ideas into film, audiences all over the world will gain insight not only into the double-edged nature of violence in the Middle East as it manifests itself in the lives of Israelis, but in their personal lives as well, whoever they are, and wherever they may be ABOUT THE FILMMAKER PRODUCERS Paul Wesley, Marek Rozenbaum, Alexander Rodnyansky Marek Rozenbaum holds a degree in Social work and Film from the Tel Aviv University. He has directed 2 films and produced over 40 feature films and international co-productions, among them award-winning films that have received worldwide recognition. Mr. Rozenbaum is the recipient of five Ophir Best Film Awards. He served as Chairman of Israel's Film and Television Producers Association and today is a Member of its Board as well as chairing the Israeli Academy of Film and Television for a decade PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE Transfax Film Productions was established in 1989 as an independent production company specializing in feature film production and co-production. The company has produced over 40 feature films and international co-productions -many winning international prizes including Keren Yedaya’s Or (Camera D’or)& That Lovely Girl, and A Strange Course of Events by Raphael Nadjari (Quinzaine des Realisateurs) and Our Father by Meni Yaish. Production Company Transfax, Tel Aviv, Israel mailto:marek@transfax.co.il +972 50 523 8766 PRODUCTION BUDGET Production Budget $1,400,000 Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

Darwin Darwin Filmmakers: Oren Adaf Producer Shlomi Elkabez Production Company: SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Genre: Lab Edition: 4 , 2015 LOG LINE SYNOPSIS DIRECTOR'S NOTE ABOUT THE FILMMAKER PRODUCER Shlomi Elkabez PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE PRODUCTION BUDGET Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

Ich Bin Marika Ich Bin Marika Filmmakers: Hajni Kis Producer Júlia Berkes Production Company: Proton Cinema SCENE PITCH Country: Hungary Language: German, Hungarian, Turkish, English Genre: Drama Lab Edition: 11 , 2023 LOG LINE MARIKA (55) moves from Hungary to Germany to become the caregiver of a problematic elderly couple in order to make enough money to get her husband out of jail SYNOPSIS Marika (55) is cashier in a Budapest supermarket. One day, her long-lost love, Jani (55), re-appears in her life. He takes on a highway construction job in Germany, but causes a mass accident and is imprisoned. Marika decides to do what she can to get him out. In order to pay a lawyer, she goes to work for an elderly couple in Germany. Caring for Ulrich (85) and Susana (82) truly puts her to the test, and Marika’s life is turned drastically upside down. DIRECTOR'S NOTE I shot my first film in a nursing home for 6 months. Things I saw there changed my outlook on what to present in life. I consider old age to be one of the most important periods, when even the thickest walls we've constructed can collapse in an instant. I would like to highlight the interdependence we humans have, regardless of nationality, culture, language, religion, social class, or gender. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER Hajni Kis, director and scriptwriter, graduated from the University of Theatre and Film in Budapest as a director. Her short film Beautiful Figure was nominated for the Student Academy Award and invited to over 100 festivals; Last Call won the Best Student Film Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival and was broadcasted by ARTE and HBO. Her first feature film, Wild Roots, won 17 prizes internationally. Ich Bin Marika is her 2nd feature film project. PRODUCER Júlia Berkes Juli Berkes is a Hungarian producer. After finishing her studies, she began working at Proton Cinema as a line producer and made several international feature films. Since 2009, she has produced a series of shorts and feature films. Her passion lies in finding new young talents of Hungarian cinema. She has produced 5 short films and 3 feature films by Gabor Reisz as well as a short and the first feature film of Hajni Kis. Her latest features include Evolution by Kornél Mundruczó (Cannes, 2021) and Explanation for Everything by Gabor Reisz (premiering later in 2023). Juli is an EAVE and Producers on the Move alumni. Proton Cinema is a Budapest-based independent film and theatre production company. Established in 2003 by producer Viktória Petrányi and director Kornél Mundruczó, the company aims to provide opportunities for creative people who want to see the world and have it seen. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE Company name, city Proton Cinema , Budapest, Hungary contact email berkesjuli@protoncinema.hu PRODUCTION BUDGET contact telephone number +3670 422 7110 The production budget in USD :2.582.122 USD confirmed budget in USD and source : 503.655 USD Creative Europe /Media Slate : 43.147 USD Filmjus Fund for scriptwriting: 1402 USD Tax rebate (automatic): 459.106 USD Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

Checkout Checkout Filmmakers: Jonathan Dekel Producer Chilik Michaeli Production Company: SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Genre: Lab Edition: 7 , 2018 LOG LINE In this cheeky Mossad comedy, Dov is a Jewish American spy in Istanbul desperate to convince his Israeli peers that he has located a legendary terrorist. On the verge of being forced to retire, he is desperate to prove that he is the hero he always thought he would be. The film is inspired by the filmmaker’s own experience as an American who joined the Israeli Special Forces, and felt the clash between American culture and Israeli machismo. SYNOPSIS In this cheeky Mossad comedy, Dov is a Jewish American spy in Istanbul desperate to convince his Israeli peers that he has located a legendary terrorist. On the verge of being forced to retire, he is desperate to prove that he is the hero he always thought he would be. The film is inspired by the filmmaker’s own experience as an American who joined the Israeli Special Forces, and felt the clash between American culture and Israeli machismo. DIRECTOR'S NOTE ABOUT THE FILMMAKER PRODUCER Chilik Michaeli PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE PRODUCTION BUDGET Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

Every Step You Take Every Step You Take Filmmakers: Noa Gusakov Producer Leah Tonic Production Company: Leah Tonic SCENE PITCH Country: Israel Language: Hebrew Genre: Coming of Age Lab Edition: 14 , 2026 LOG LINE Facing unwanted relocation to America, 17-year-old Elinor vows to protect the intense, symbiotic bond with her reckless best friend, Sharona. In a desperate act of rebellion, the girls escape to a desert rave, pushing their bond to a breaking point. SYNOPSIS Elinor and Sharona are best friends bound by an intense, codependent bond. When Elinor's mother forces a US relocation to help evade the military draft, the girls refuse to part and decide to do whatever it takes to stay in Israel. Escaping to a desert rave to sabotage the move, Sharona gets in trouble, spiraling their night into high stakes. Meanwhile, their contrasting mothers unite to track them down, forcing Elinor to realize that breaking this bond is her path to freedom. DIRECTOR'S NOTE Standing at the equator between the teenager I was and the mother I am today, I set out to write this intimate coming-of-age dramedy. As a teen, my friends were my anchor, and my mother was the enemy; I constantly searched for a female role model to guide me. Through this film, I capture the raw, physical tension of youth - between an overbearing mother and an intensely codependent best friend - asking whether a tight, suffocating embrace isolates us or keeps us safe. ABOUT THE FILMMAKER Noa Gusakov is an award-winning Israeli film director, screenwriter, and Sam Spiegel Film and TV School graduate. She won the Israeli Academy Award for Best Directing and Writing in a Children’s Series, alongside two nominations for her acclaimed shorts "How to Swim" and "Large Soldier". Her narrative short films have screened and won awards internationally. She is an alumna of prestigious artists' residencies including MacDowell, Yaddo, and Berlinale Talents. "Every Step You Take" is her debut feature film. PRODUCER Leah Tonic Leah Tonic is an Israeli producer with over a decade of experience in independent cinema, specializing in acclaimed auteur-driven productions. Her work includes award-winning films screened at leading international festivals, including Cannes, San Sebastián, Toronto, Palm Springs, and Tribeca. Alongside her producing career, she has served as Project Manager for the Israeli Academy of Film and Television, lectures in production at the Sam Spiegel Film & Television School, and leads major cultural initiatives that connect cinema, education, and social impact. A graduate of the Sam Spiegel School, Leah has received recognition as one of Israel's most influential young changemakers. She is committed to developing bold cinematic voices and supporting original, socially engaged storytelling from script to screen. PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE ○ Leah Tonic Productions ○ 5 Dror st, Mitzpe Abirim, Israel ○ leahtonic@gmail.com ○ ⁦+972-507114707 PRODUCTION BUDGET ○ Total budget: 500,000 USD Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ

The Pleasure is Mine The Pleasure is Mine Filmmakers: Sacha Amaral Producer Tomas Cohen Production Company: SCENE PITCH Country: Brazil Language: Genre: Lab Edition: 8 , 2019 LOG LINE What was at first a simple pursuit to regain stolen money becomes the chance for a dysfunctional family to finally reconcile. SYNOPSIS What was at first a simple pursuit to regain stolen money becomes the chance for a dysfunctional family to finally reconcile. DIRECTOR'S NOTE ABOUT THE FILMMAKER PRODUCER Tomas Cohen PRODUCTION COMPANY PROFILE PRODUCTION BUDGET Back To Participants HOME TEAM NEWS LABS SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB SITE MAP ACCESSIBILITY STATEMENT FILM FAQ FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ