Winners and Awards at the 25th Cinema South Film Festival 2026

Miriam Hochman Short Film Competition

In its seventh edition, the Miriam Hochman Short Film Competition presented an extraordinary narrative and animated mosaic. 11 independent films from Israel and around the world were selected for screening this year, ranging across various genres and bringing the essence of the human condition to the screen.
Jury: Esther Turan , Emmanuelle Mayer , Shani Kiniso

Best Short Film | 10,000 NIS, courtesy of Cinema Industry Association in Israel 

Awarded to the film: Phototaxis 
Director: Yuval Aharoni 
Jury Statement: The violence of Israeli society drains into a closed space that threatens to explode at any moment. The meticulous directing does not fall into clichés of absolute good or evil, aided by accurate casting. An impressive and highly relevant film that will be intriguing to see developed into a feature-length film.

Second Prize | Development grant of 5,000 NIS, courtesy of The Makor Foundation for Israeli Films

Awarded to the film: Erased (07-02-24)
Director: Omri Shadar Inspector  
Jury Statement: A breakup is always unbearable, and power dynamics undermine it as well. In his brave directing, the filmmaker utilizes the mechanism of cinematic manipulation. He creates intimacy, heightens our attention, and exposes a universal truth about love, heartbreak, and a bit about us—the audience.

Honorable Mention

Awarded to the film: WideSpread
Director: Paz Bernstein  
Jury Statement: Dozens of women shared their experiences from the gynecological exam chair with the filmmaker. She took their stories and, with a clear language and a confident voice, succeeded in creating a movie that is poetic, funny, somber, and deeply moving.
 

South Student Doco Pitching Event

The South Student Doco Pitching Event, founded by Osnat Trabelsi and produced by the Israeli Documentary Forum and the Cinema South Festival, works to promote young filmmakers and integrate them into the documentary film and television industry. Projects from film schools across Israel participate, with young creators receiving preparation and mentorship ahead of the pitch.
During the event, 7 documentary projects currently in production were presented to a committee comprising representatives from broadcasting bodies and film funds. The standout projects won production grants courtesy of the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund and Kan - the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation.

Jury: Udi Nir, Inbal Petel, Ruth Diskin

Gesher Multicultural Film Fund Award | 30,000 NIS

Project Title: Don't Ever Change (She'lo Tishtaneh) 
Director: Maayan Alexandon 
Educational Institution: Tel Aviv University 
Jury Statement: Through a family story, we are exposed to the costs, dilemmas, and contradictions of life in Israel. This is the story of an entire generation of young people who grew up into war and violence, told through a unique and intimate perspective that can resonate deeply in post-October 7th Israeli society.
 

Kan 11 Public Broadcasting Award | 15,000 NIS

Project Title: We Remained (Notarnu) 
Director: Yaakov Tzim 
Educational Institution: Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem
Jury Statement: A story reflecting the cost of belonging to Israeli society, conveyed through bereavement. A personal family narrative shot in a sensitive and intimate cinematic language, through which the director reveals the struggle with paying that price.

Honorable Mention

Project Title: Between A and B 
Director: Yael Muenster 
Educational Institution: Tel Aviv University 
Jury Statement: A jarring film that touches on the critical issue of sexual assault. The director discovers a family secret that sets her off on a cinematic journey confronting questions of denial, memory, and truth. With a confident cinematic hand, a family story unfolds that echoes a universal human experience.

Pitching for TV Series & Formats for TV

Pitching for TV Series & Formats for TV
This year a double pitching event was held featuring students from the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir College, showcasing proposals for both TV series and television formats. Students presented proposals for TV series developed during their studies, alongside original television formats created within the TV and Digital Format Development Lab.

Jury: Yuval Horowitz, Dagnit Atias Gigi, Sharon Drix
   

Keshet 12 Award | 2,000 NIS

Project Title: Eat, Move, Love 
Creators: Shira Shevach, Hagit Kalmanovitz-Koren, Shaked Parshani, Hadar Dray 
Jury Statement: An idea born out of teamwork and the unique contribution of each creator. It holds real potential to develop into an interesting, relevant, and contemporary television format that touches every one of us and addresses one of the most fascinating topics of our time—aging and longevity.

Keshet 12 Award | 1,500 NIS

Project Title: Weak Character  
Creators: Omer Solomon and Guy Karsel 
Jury Statement: An original concept with the potential for a distinctive comedic series featuring a philosophical element. An original pitch that reflects the unique voice of its creators.

Keshet 12 Award | 1,500 NIS

Project Title: Dead Ground 
Creators: Shir Matias 
Jury Statement: Potential for a personal, Israeli, moving, and relevant story.

New Cinema South Competition

Best Narrative Feature Film in Memory of Mika Elon | 5,000 NIS, courtesy of the Mika Elon Family

Film Title: Mother Tongue
Director: Idan Raphael 
Jury Statement: An original and spectacular film in terms of acting, cinematography, sound, storytelling, and its unique world. The filmmaker succeeded in weaving a personal and authentic statement with universal questions about the origins of language and creation, and their connection to home, mother, and life.

In addition, Idan Raphael will be awarded a membership in the Directors Guild of Israel, Courtesy of the Directors Guild of Israel

Best Documentary Film | 5,000 NIS, courtesy of Partner

Film Title: Ready to Die 
Director: Yuval Kachlon  
Jury Statement: An original and moving film featuring a unique character that together offers a new way to process loss. The movie plays with the boundaries of the genre and left us all in tears.

In addition, Yuval Kachlon will be awarded a membership in the Directors Guild of Israel, Courtesy of the Directors Guild of Israel

Best Animated Film | 5,000 NIS, courtesy of the family of the late Ruth Farhi

Film Title: Written in the Cards 
Director: Tamir Shpigelman 
Jury Statement: A witty and hilarious film that successfully weaves together a complete creative body of work. Through intriguing stylistic choices, the piece harnesses the language of movement and design in a way that enriches it, bringing forth a direct and charming use of the medium's power—one that seamlessly connects a unique visual language with a brilliant script and comedic tone.

In addition, Tamir Shpigelman will be awarded a membership in the Directors Guild of Israel, Courtesy of the Directors Guild of Israel

Best Editing | 3,000 NIS, courtesy of Partner

Awarded to: Idan Raphael 
Film Title: Like I've never been
Director: Doron Ben Natan 
Jury Statement: Thoughtfully assembling the shattered pieces—the aftermath of an event's blast wave—with sensitivity and thoroughness. The editing creates clear ripples, a precise rhythm, and sharp, clean transitions that support a line that continues to echo within us: "I was there too."

Best Production | 3,000 NIS, courtesy of Metaphor

Awarded to: Shani Sabag
Film Title: Berish the Schnorrer
Director: Eli Henig
Jury Statement: A complex production that required creating a specific world featuring numerous actors, extras, and a variety of authentic locations. The choices made optimally served the film's vision—to be timeless and entirely contemporary all at once.

Best Production Design | 3,000 NIS, courtesy of July August Productions

Awarded to: Tal Gold and Omri Edelman
Film Title: Strawberry games
Director: Ron Altbrote 
Jury Statement: Wonderful design—witty and precise—that created distinct arenas, different time periods, and complex perspectives. It is evident that the art design served as a foundational element of the film's bold cinematic expression.

Best Cinematography | 3,000 NIS, courtesy of Partner

Awarded to: Yahel Zagury 
Film Title: Praying to a Cat
Director: Daniel Hexter 
Jury Statement: A master of light and shadow who turned the viewing experience into something dramatic, intriguing, and unpredictable.

Best Soundtrack Design | On behalf of 3,000 NIS named after Lior Weizman, courtesy of the Sderot Cinematheque

Awarded to: Gavriel Maymon 
Film Title: What Do You See?
Director: Guy Dagan
Jury Statement: What does an opening door sound like? What does it sound like when morning breaks in a forest? We know the answers to these. But what does sadness sound like, and what does longing sound like? That is a bit harder to convey to the viewer. In this film, the sound designer successfully conveyed emotions and even facial expressions through a wealth of fascinating and diverse sounds.

Best Screenplay | On behalf of 3,000 NIS courtesy of July August Productions

Awarded to: Ron Altbrote 
Film Title: Strawberry Games
Director: Ron Altbrote 
Jury Statement: A daring, playful, and surprising screenplay that managed to mesmerize us while revealing only a glimpse at a time. A brilliant and multi-layered screenplay that adds to a distinguished collection of feminist works.

Original Music Award | On behalf of 3,000 NIS courtesy of Partner

Awarded to: Shahar Amran
Film Title: An Hour Out
Director: Stav Levy
Jury Statement: A composition that skillfully managed to contain a mosaic of emotions—hilarious humor, burning passion, confusion, and turmoil—along with the ironic transitions between them in a situation disconnected from life (which is actually life itself).

Audience Favorite Award | On behalf of 2,000 NIS courtesy of the Sapir College Student Union

Awarded to the film: Ready to Die
Director: Yuval Kahlon

"Sparks" Competition In memory of Ruth Farhi

This is the fifth year of the competition, featuring selected films and works by students from the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir College. As part of the competition, two awards of 2,500 NIS each were presented to outstanding films, courtesy of the Farhi family.
Jury: The family of the late actress Ruth Farhi.

Awarded to the film: If I Had Known
Director: Shira Shevach 
Jury Statement: A touching, deep, and sensitive work. The film presents a human and heartbreaking conflict. Alongside the emotionally charged screenplay, the film stands out with precise direction and impressive, praiseworthy cinematography that heighten the cinematic experience. A human, painful, and moving creation.

Awarded to the film: By the Roadside
Director: Yoav Shlezinger 
Jury Statement: The film wins the award for its ability to touch upon a close, chilling, and painful topic from Israel's security reality with extraordinary emotional power. The work manages to look beyond the news headlines and examine with great sensitivity the remnants left behind when the media moves on. It is a jarring, human, and important film that gets straight to the heart and doesn't let go.

Honorable Mention

Awarded to the film: Butterfly
Directors: Lital Lellouche, Elis Levitan 
Jury Statement: Exceptional honesty and high cinematic sensitivity. The film looks directly at complex past trauma, successfully turning a composite of pain and open dialogue into an empowering journey of healing, movement, and acceptance. This is a work demonstrating praiseworthy artistic and human courage.

Southern Line - Pitching

Southern Line by the Negev Film Fund is a development incubator connecting documentary filmmakers with animation directors to create docu-animations focused on southern stories. The pitching event brought to the forefront the 6 projects developed in the incubator, which competed for two production grants of 250,000 NIS each.
Jury: Dotan Moreno, Alon Levy, Mor Israeli

Production Grant worth 250,000 NIS

Project Title: Ghoul 
Creators: Yousef Abo Madegem and Jonathan Dumosch
Jury Statement: The project successfully transforms a legend and a childhood memory into a tangible image that exists simultaneously in reality and imagination. It manages to raise questions about the chain of generations, the shadows of memory, and living alongside them.

Production Grant worth 250,000 NIS

Project Title: Mother's Echo 
Creators: Raz Merhav and Liat Kaplan 
Jury Statement: The project is both personal and universal, centering on the echoes of guilt that accompany the film's protagonist and her ability to grow alongside them. Through sharp visual imagery, it gives presence to the decisions that accompany our lives and the possibility for compassion within them.

Moving Image Pitching

Moving Image is a development incubator for dance films, connecting filmmakers and choreographers to create work in the South. At the pitch event, the four projects selected for the incubator were presented alongside sample scenes created during the development process, demonstrating the filmmakers' cinematic world and point of view.
Jury: Shmulik Maoz, Itamar Alcalay, Liat Dror
 

Award | Production Grant worth 250,000 NIS

Project Title: Birtukan 
Creators: Tai Morris, Dege Feder, Tzipi Nir 
Jury Statement: The project gives deep expression to the South, both in the narrative present and in the memory of the desert burned into the body. The perspective of the main character generates honesty and authenticity. A focused and refined project that uses the sounds of bureaucracy to score the scene. The movement in the film expresses emotions, thoughts, fears, and uncertainty that stem from the movement within the plot's progression.

The Kolnoar Darom Competition

The Kolnoar Darom Competition took place for the fourth year, this year in collaboration with the "Or Hozer" initiative by the Negev Film Fund, aiming to promote filmmaking among youth in the Western Negev. The competition featured graduation films created by high school students from schools in the Negev, presented to an audience and a professional jury.
Jury: Benni Cohen, Ziv Naveh, Liron Rachel Erez, Yonatan Domosh

First Place

Film Title: Killing Murphy
School: Nofei HaBshor High School
Jury Statement: An original and surprising idea. A film full of humor that is executed exceptionally well—thanks to a clever script, virtuoso acting, and comedic direction that wisely utilizes technological tools and visual expressions.
 

Second Place

Film Title: Disruption
School: Eshel HaNasi High School
Jury Statement: Using minimal artistic means, the film creates a rich and moving language about a young boy coping with the loss of his friend. A film with added social value regarding coping with grief.

Third Place

Film Title: The Song Programmer
School: Darca Marom Ofakim
Jury Statement: A brave and experimental film that uses artificial intelligence in a smart, multi-layered way that echoes a social dilemma, reminding us that there is no substitute for humanity.