Sderot Film Festival Launches New Incubator While Examining Life Since October 7

The Cinema of the South Festival returns to the Sderot Cinematheque from November 1 to 5 to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Established by the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir Academic College, the event has evolved into a significant platform for regional cinema. This year's program emphasizes the creative output of filmmakers in Sderot and the western Negev, with a specific focus on works that process the experiences of the three years since the October 7 Hamas-led massacres in Israel.

The opening evening features a major television event. Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir will join the stage to discuss their Netflix series Bros. The session will include the world premiere of the first two episodes of the show's second season. The narrative follows two childhood friends who are both Beitar Jerusalem fans. They co-own a pub in Jerusalem, and the plot explores how a series of crises tests the resilience of their long-standing friendship.

A diverse lineup of Israeli television premieres and documentaries runs throughout the week. Audiences will see Motherland, a KAN comedy-drama written by Yael Hedaya. The cast includes Dana Ivgy, Sasson Gabay, and Alma Zack. The festival also screens Whose Daughter Are You?, a KAN documentary series directed by Efrat Shalom Danon and Keren Shayo. This production, led by producer Osnat Trabelsi, highlights the lives of Mizrahi women in Israel. Additionally, the team behind the popular KAN series The Pshute will host a session. Attendees will meet director Dan Messer and creators Bar Elmaliach Donzov, Chen Rotman, and Oshrit Sarusi.

The program concludes with a tribute to editor Nili Feller, a two-time Ophir Award winner. The closing film is a preview of Iris Zaki's What Was She Thinking?, a project about the choice not to have children in Israeli society. Zaki heads the master's degree program at the college. The tribute will screen four films edited by Feller. It will also include a master class and meetings with filmmakers such as Ari Folman and Dani Rosenberg.

New work from Sapir graduates forms a central part of the regional showcase. Efrat Corem presents Heart of Gold, starring Chen Amsalem, Menashe Noy, and Israel Atias. Shir Houri Abu displays the documentary 100 Gates, while Sderot filmmaker Tal Avitan shows Carlos Outside the Lines. The latter film focuses on a children's soccer coach in Kiryat Gat. Eight winning films from previous festival editions will also be part of the retrospective screenings.

Specific thematic collections examine the impact of recent events on the community. Sketches of the Soul gathers five short films by western Negev creators about life after October 7. The festival also hosts the premiere of Sami Shalom Chetrit's My Beloved Gourama. This documentary follows the life of his father in both Morocco and Israel. International collaboration is highlighted by Swiss director Thomas Imbach, who will present two films and lead a master class in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy.

The closing ceremony marks a strategic shift in support for local talent. Organizers will launch Negba, a new incubator designed to assist young filmmakers from the south. This initiative aims to sustain the creative ecosystem in the region. Detailed schedules and registration information are available on the festival's page on the Sapir Academic College website.