jury
Feature Film Competition
Tamar Liebermann
A film producer, she lives and resides in Tel Aviv.
Among the prominent films she has produced: “A Day in Amsterdam,” directed by Rony Keidar, which was screened at the last Haifa Film Festival, and “Taboo: Amos Guttman,” directed by Shauli Melamed, currently screening in cinemas, where she served as Executive Producer.
She is currently producing Nitzan Giladi’s new film.
Dana Morag
A film professional and content expert.
The Artistic Director of the Tel Aviv Cinematheque from 2021-2024.
For 16 years at yes company, she managed the acquisition of films for the VOD service and the film channels, and served as a reader for original Israeli films at yes and in the yes Docu tenders.
She graduated with honors from the Tel Aviv University School of Film and Television (BA) and from the Department of Film and Television at the University of Warwick in England (MA).
Yuval Shani
A director and screenwriter, born in Jerusalem, winner of the Best Ensemble Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival 2024 for his first feature-length film “Makolet” (Grocery Store), and the Nechama Rivlin Award for Promising Creator in 2019.
His short films have also achieved great success in Israel and worldwide, including participation in the Official Competition of the Cannes Film Festival and winning the First Prize in San Sebastián.
International Shorts Competition
Sara Mittal Benyamin
An autodidactic creator living and working between New York and Tel Aviv, engaged in casting and cinema.
Her career began as a photographer, and later she founded the casting agency Memoria Di, through which she has cast many projects in the fields of cinema and fashion.
Her short film “Arava” (2023), based on her personal biography, participated in international festivals and received much praise.
Daniel Gat
A young filmmaker, manager of international festivals for the distribution company Go2Films, and the incoming director of the Tel Aviv International Student Film Festival. His short films have participated in many festivals, including TLVFest, and won awards in Israel and around the world.
He is currently working towards shooting his final project film in the Department of Film and Television at Tel Aviv University, where he recently completed his studies.
CHaya Mushayov
A graduate of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, a director, screenwriter, and casting director.
Her film “Puff Pastries” participated in TLVFest last year and traveled to festivals in Israel and abroad. She is currently working on an animated documentary film “Pigeon’s Blood,” which is scheduled for release next year.
She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work.
She manages the Trans Social Work framework at the “Ma’avarim” organization.
Documentary Film Competition
Karin Rywkind Segal
The outgoing Artistic Director of the Docaviv Festival. Prior to this, she served as Docaviv’s Program Director, worked at the Harvard University Film Archive, the Boston Jewish Film Festival, and managed the Israeli cinema magazine “Ma’arvon.” She has also participated as a judge and panel member in film festivals worldwide.
Rywkind Segal is a graduate of the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, and has exhibited her works in a number of institutions in Israel and abroad, including the Metrograph in New York, the Fogg Museum at Harvard University, and the Tel Aviv Museum.
Rami fahel
A Jaffa native. A graduate of the Film and Television training program at Tel Aviv University.
His first film “Mulukhiyah” received extensive exposure in Israel and globally and was screened at several international festivals. His second film “Old Decorations” is nominated for a number of festivals.
One of the directors of the documentary film “we must talk now” for ARTE.
He is an assistant editor for the programs “Slicha Al HaShe’ela in Arabic” (Sorry for the Question in Arabic) and “Bo’u Le’ekhol Iti in Arabic” (Come Eat with Me in Arabic).
Gil Sima
A filmmaker and producer.
Among his films: “Tropicana” was screened at the Karlovy Vary Festival and the Jerusalem Festival; “Taboo: Amos Guttman” was screened at the Rotterdam Festival and won the Editing Award at the Jerusalem Festival. “A Worried Citizen” was screened at the Berlin International Film Festival, won the Screenplay and Music awards at the Jerusalem Festival, and was acquired for broadcast on HBO. “Mini DV” participated in the Official Competition at the Docaviv Festival and was distributed in ‘Lev’ cinemas.
Israeli Shorts Competition
Mirna Funk
Born in East Berlin. She studied philosophy and history, and currently works as a novelist, journalist, and screenwriter. She writes articles for a variety of publications. She has published two novels and two collections of essays. Her debut novel, “Winternähe,” was published in 2015 and won the Uwe Johnson Prize for Young Writers.
Her first non-fiction book, “Who Cares! On the Freedom to Be a Woman,” entered the Spiegel bestseller list immediately in May 2022.
Funk’s work often focuses on the modern and personal presence of Jewish culture.
Amir Kaminer
One of the iconic symbols of queer culture in Israel. Dedicated to promoting camp, trash, and fringe culture to all corners of Israeli society. The number one expert on John Waters films.
A writer and fashion and culinary critic.
In 2000, Kaminer began covering the Cannes Film Festival on a regular basis and has since become one of the most recognized figures at the festival. He also covers many other festivals worldwide, including Venice, Berlin, Karlovy Vary, and more. Throughout his career, Kaminer has interviewed all the leading directors and most of the biggest film stars.
He is one of the voters for the Golden Globe Awards, the second most important award of the Hollywood awards season.
Eduardo Fernandez Zinke
Currently serves as the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Israel, and among other responsibilities, he is in charge of the culture portfolio.
Eduardo is a physician by training, specializing in preventive medicine and public health.
Pitching Competition
Hilla Medalia
A director and producer, winner of the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award, nominated for 4 Emmy Awards, and owner of the production company “Medalia Productions.” Her works have won numerous awards and have been screened in cinemas and at the world’s leading festivals, as well as on major television channels including Netflix, HBO, Paramount, MTV, BBC, and ARTE.
Guy ofran
A screenwriter.
He manages the short films and student films division at the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund.
His first feature film, “Sharqiya” (90 min.), premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and won the Best Film Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival.
Creator and screenwriter of the feature drama series “Yam HaMavet” (Dead Sea), scheduled to air on “Kan 11” in 2023.
Aurit Zamir
A producer, screenwriter, and creator.
Through her production company, she has produced films including: the feature films “The Future,” Noam Kaplan (Tribeca Festival 2023), “The Delegation,” Asaf Saban (Berlin Festival 2023), “Asia,” Ruthy Pribar (Ophir Award for Best Film 2020, Tribeca Festival – Directing, Cinematography, and Acting awards).
The drama series “The Truth,” which she created and wrote with Daphna Levin, will soon be broadcast on Kan 11. Orit served as the director of the Sam Spiegel School’s International Film Lab and is a partner in establishing the Sam Spiegel Series Lab.
Youth Competition
Talia Bartfeld
Talia Bartfeld is an Israeli comedian and actress.
Elad Shalev
Elad Shalev graduated from the Tel Aviv University School of Film and Television. He is a film critic and has worked as the editor of Israel’s largest cinema website – “Seret.co.il” since 2014. He presents cinema segments on various television and radio programs, lectures on cinema, and previously served as a reader at the TLVFest. Simultaneously, he also works as the homepage manager for the Mako website.
Noga Eitach
Originally from the Krayot, Noga and her brother Daniel create unique songs and clips in the Israeli indie-pop landscape.
With electronic leanings and her curiosity about the connections between lesbians in the internet age, Noga’s songs have garnered attention and been played on the radio, on MTV, as well as in Kan 11 series “HaMefakedet” (The Commander) (‘Everybody’s in Love with Me’), and “Sovietzka” (‘Growing Pains’).
