For the fourth year, the ‘Sparks’ Competition will showcase short films created by students from the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir College, presented as a captivating prologue to feature films and series throughout the festival. This is an opportunity to discover the emerging voices shaping the future of Israeli cinema.
Two prizes will be awarded to outstanding films, in the amount of 2,500 NIS, courtesy of the Farhi family. The winners will be announced at the festive awards ceremony on November 5th, at 18:30, at the Sderot Cinematheque - Hall 1.
Ruth Farhi (1927-2021)
Ruth Farhi was an acclaimed actress who played dozens of roles in films, series and plays. In addition to all her prolific work, she had a great love for participating in student films and meeting the next generation of filmmakers in Israel. She is survived by three children and six grandchildren, who decided to commemorate her by giving to those students she loved so much.
My name is Julliet | 1.11 | 15:00 | Cinematheque - Hall 1
Israel | 2025 | 8 min. | Hebrew | Subtitles: Hebrew, English | Fiction
In Netivot, Yael adopts the persona of Juliette, dreaming of Godard’s Paris inside a French-themed shopping mall. When a famous talent agent returns to town, she decides to chase her dream.
Director and Script: Ori Yaacobi
Production: Eli Bleir
Cinematography: Noam Yoffe
Editing: Ohad Rechtman
Art Design: Ori Yaacobi
Sound Design and Original Score: Hallel Goldenberg
Cast: Daniel Gimpel, Steve Fridman, Yulia Michin
*Presented as prologue to of the film Dimona Twist.
By the Roadside | 2.11 | 16:00 | Cinematheque - Hall 2
Israel | 2026 | 5 min. | Hebrew | Subtitles: Hebrew, English | Documentary
What happens after the reporters leave? *This film contains war-related themes and may cause emotional distress.
Director, Script and Production: Yoav Shlezinger
*Presented as prologue to of the collection Soul Traces.
Squares of Air | 3.11 | 18:30 | Cinematheque - Hall 2
Israel | 2026 | 7.24 min. | Hebrew | Subtitles: Hebrew | Fiction
Leaving her childhood home, Noga struggles to say goodbye. Faced with her silence, her father joins her game, and in the absence of words, .they create a language of their own.
Director and Script: Amalia Ben Gal
Production: Gal Roth
Cinematography: Evyatar Nahmias
Editing: Gilad Ran
Art Design: Nehora Laub
Cast: Eliya and Matan Lieberman
*Presented as prologue to of the project Narrative.
Homesickness | 3.11 | 20:30 | Cinematheque - Hall 2
Israel | 2025 | 7 min. | Hebrew | Subtitles: Hebrew, English | Documentary
Recreating a hike they took a decade ago, a father and daughter confront the pain and freedom bound up in her leaving the nest early.
Director, Script, Production, Cinematography, Editing: Kerem Gigi
Sound Design & Original Score: Shahar Amran
Participants: Kerem Gigi, Eli Gigi, Tova Gigi
*Presented as prologue to of the film My Beloved Gourama.
If I Had Known | 4.11 | 16:00 | Cinematheque - Hall 1
Israel | 2025 | 8 min. | Hebrew, English, Mandarin | Subtitles: Hebrew, English | Fiction
A foreign caregiver must choose between her father’s funeral and her beloved geriatric patient, who might not survive her absence.
Director and Script: Shira Shevach
Production: Maayan Yoffe
Cinematography: Omer Szybowsky
Editing: Ido Lev Shalom
Sound Design: Doron Donin
Cast: Ellen Shi Min, Hanna Dayan, Sigal Szybowsky, Itzik Levy, Atai Yoffe
*Presented as prologue to of the TV Series Whose Daughter Are You.
Brodcast Mi Amor | 04.11 | 16:30 | Cinematheque - Hall 2
Israel | 2026 | 2 min. | Hebrew | Subtitles: Hebrew, English | Documentary
Between sirens and broadcasts, a young filmmaker falls in love with the news screen - until comfort turns into a toxic obsession.
Director, Producer, Editing, Art Design, Sound Design: Amir Hameir Rosenberg
Cinematography: Itay Aharon Bousidan
Participants: Amir Hameir Rosenberg
*Presented as prologue to of the film The Death Of Cinema And My Father Too.
Butterfly | 4.11 | 18:00 | Cinematheque - Hall 1
Israel | 2026 | 5 min. | Hebrew | Subtitles: Hebrew, English | Documentary
Through a conversation on the streets of her childhood about being raped at age 13 by her dance teacher, Yuval Raz realizes she will never stop dancing.
Director, Script, Art Design: Lital Lellouche, Elis Levitan
Production: Elis Levitan
Cinematography, Editing: Lital Lellouche
Sound Design: Lior Fuzailov
Original Score: Atar Mayner
Participants: Yuval Raz
*Presented as prologue to of the film 100 Gates.
Hisachfoot | 4.11 | 20:00 | Cinematheque - Hall 1
Israel | 2025 | 10 min. | Hebrew | Subtitles: Hebrew, English | Fiction
Every day, Mina drifts into fantasies of love and romance, but when Alex knocks on her door, she is left wondering: was he real, or was she swept away by imagination once again?
Director and Script: Noa Rokni
Production: Emily Ben Ezra
Cinematography: Kerem Gigi
Editing: Noam Shitrit
Art Design: Ana Galeev
Sound Design and Original Score: Shahar Amran
Cast: Nili Tserruya, Yakov Kadosh
*Presented as prologue to of the film Heart of Gold.