Biankini - Studio Darom Participants 2025
Synopsis
Meital, a respected and serious police investigator and an immigrant from the former Soviet Union, joins a work retreat at Biankini Beach on the Dead Sea. But instead of unwinding, she becomes entangled with Natasha, a wild young housekeeper and recent newcomer from Ukraine. Suspecting Natasha is secretly offering sex services to hotel guests, Meital begins a pursuit that slowly turns inward. For the first time in her life, Meital crosses legal and moral lines — not to stop Natasha, but to follow her. As their connection deepens, professional boundaries blur, and Meital’s lifelong repression gives way to a charged, dangerous awakening.
Hila Elena Royzenman | Director
Director and scriptwriter, was born in Saint Petersburg and immigrated to Israel in 1990. A graduate and a lecturer at Sam Spiegel Film School.
Her film Motherland won the Best Short Film award at the Cinema South International FF, the Best Director Award at the TA Students FF, and was nominated for the Israeli Academy Award. Her diploma film, Cold Frost & Sunshine, won the Grand Prix at the VGIK International FF and has been screened worldwide. Her current short film, Stars, produced by Karen Belz is now in editing.
She received her BA in Theater and Journalism from the Hebrew University. She currently has a TV series in development with SPIRO Films. Biankini, her debut feature film.
Karen Belz | Producer
Karen Belz was born in Israel and grew up in a French-speaking Belgian family, spending her formative years between Belgium, France, and Israel. She has been involved in a wide range of film productions, both locally and internationally, accompanying projects from early development through to completion, including marketing and distribution. Her work often focuses on art house features that pose creative or logistical challenges, with an emphasis on translating ideas into accessible and engaging films.
Binnenhof Productions, which she founded, specializes in content development, fundraising from both public and private sectors, and production services for international shoots in Israel. Recent projects include Hummus Full Trailer (A comedy supported by the Israel Film Fund), Lorenzo’s Story (the sequel to Eva’s Story, filmed in Italy), and the Netflix series Diamonds, directed by Rotem Shamir (Fauda, Hashotrim). Habaita, a new debut feature produced by Binnenhof is scheduled for release in 2026.