Israeli Short Films Competition A

Israel, 2025, 22 minutes, Hebrew with Hebrew subtitles

After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, my queer family and I left Moscow in a hurry, finding ourselves in revolutionary Sri Lanka. Finding and realising my identity while searching for a new home and trying to keep my family together – is this our lucky break?

Director: Oleg Lakovlev
Script: Oleg Lakovlev
Producer: Oleg Lakovlev
With: Valeriya Lakovleva, Lev Lakovlev, Sergei Vasilchenko, Oleg Lakovlev

Israel, 2025, 12 minutes, Hebrew with Hebrew subtitles

In an intimate journey, the director explores the complexities of gender identity, intimacy, and relationships by turning the camera on her cross-dressing boyfriend. The film quite literally opens the closet, challenging gender norms and putting both their identities and relationship to the test revealing raw and vulnerable moments. Bezalel Academy of Art and Design Jerusalem

Director: Ariella Hertzog
Script: Ariella Hertzog
Producer: Ariella Hertzog
With: Ariella Hertzog and Omri Shahar

Israel, 2025, 20 minutes, Hebrew with Hebrew subtitles

Caught between his mother’s anxieties and a risky romance with his boss, 16-year-old Yonatan is in a desperate search for freedom. As secrets surface, he must navigate love, betrayal, and self-discovery to uncover what truly matters.Tel Aviv University

Director: Itai Jamshy
Script: Itai Jamshy
Producer: Dor Fisher
With: Arad Triffon Reshef, Hila Mann, Oded Leopold, Ruthy Bornstein, Jules Atlan

Israel, 2025, 9 minutes, Hebrew with Hebrew subtitles

During a foot massage, a mother and her son openly discuss sexuality. Tel Aviv University

Director: Ariel Schendar
Script: Ariel and Noa Schendar
Producer: Ariel Schendar
With: Ariel and Noa Schendar