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- Merav Haddad
Shtukit Shtukit Screenwriter: Merav Haddad Producer: Liat Revaya , Tedy Productions Language: Hebrew Format: 8 Episodes x 35 Minutes Send PITCHDECK LOGLINE Only two things stand between Bat-Or and her new life: God, and her father. One of them has to die and it won't be God. SYNOPSIS According to Jewish law, a "Shtukit" is a woman who doesn't know her father's identity and is suspected of being illegitimate, therefore forbidden to marry. Bat-Or is thirty, newly religious, and she keeps getting set up with men who aren't even close to her level. In the religious world, family background matters and hers is a disaster. Her mother's a former inmate with a weakness for weed and losers, living in a border town Bat-Or left behind. The man she thought was her father walked out when she was a kid. Even her aunt, a respectable nurse and the woman who actually raised her, doesn't help her case. Neither does her job teaching inmates. When she gets the chance to sell her grandmother's house and take all the money, suddenly, her stock goes up. In matchmaking, money talks louder than problematic family. For the first time, the matchmaker sets her up with Avihai, from a wealthy, respectable family, devout and kind. They meet, and it clicks instantly. In their world, to avoid living in sin, they need to marry within months. There's just one problem: Bat-Or doesn't know "Dad" wasn't her real father. And the secret is about to come out. WRITER'S STATEMENT I grew up in a border town in northern Israel, the youngest of seven in a complex family. I served five years as a detective before moving into documentary filmmaking. Today, I work as a documentary researcher and director at Keshet 12 and teach civics and motivation to lifers. The prison, the border town, the characters in Shtukit, these are places and people I know. Bat-Or, like me, wants a new life and a new family, but the past doesn't let go. Shtukit is an edgy dark comedy filled with human warmth. The humor and crime emerge naturally from who these characters are: ex-cons, hustlers, religious seekers living messy, complicated lives. The language is raw, the stakes are real. Visually, the series is realistic, unglamorous, unforgiving. War-worn exhaustion, prison grit, grandma's house with peeling paint. A border town, a prison, an old house, settings that create a stark contrast between what the characters dream of and the gritty reality they're trapped in. At its core, Shtukit is about the search for home: physical, emotional, stable. About what people are willing to do for a fresh start, even when the past refuses to stay buried. ABOUT THE WRITER Meirav Hadas Hadad was born and raised in a small town on the Lebanese border, in a family of addicts. She teaches in a prison and works in the documentary department at Keshet 12, Israel's leading broadcast network. In 2019, she wrote and directed The Curse of Victor, a documentary that aired on cable. Shtukit is drawn from the real people and events that shaped her life. PRODUCER'S STATEMENT From the first moment we first read Shtukit, we immediately recognized a truly exceptional project—one unlike anything we had seen before. We all fell in love with the story, the writing, and with Meirav herself. For a long while now, we have been accompanying Meirav through the development and writing of her unique story. As we progress, we realize just how important this narrative is. It is a rare opportunity to bring a distinct female story to the forefront, balanced with a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. At Tedy Productions, a company led by a team of strong proffesional women, we feel that creating with strong women carries a potent power that isn’t always heard. In Shtukit, we clearly identified the powerful female voice that Meirav brings—a voice we haven’t encountered in other projects. We believe in her unique perspective and are convinced that this is a powerful story that simply must reach the screen. PRODUCER PROFILE Tedy Productions was founded in 1973 and has been producing television for over 30 years. Tedy continues to expand its ties with the global television industry, with its formats acquired and produced by various networks and channels worldwide, including in the U.S., U.K., Argentina, Korea, China, Germany, Brazil, France, and many others. Tedy has produced drama series that have been sold for international remakes, most notably Euphoria, which was sold to HBO. The drama series Bad Boy, which swept all major Israeli Academy Awards for Best Drama, including Best Series, Directing, Screenplay, Cinematography, and more, was acquired by Netflix Global and premiered in May 2025. In addition to Euphoria and Bad Boy, Tedy also produced The Gordin Cell (MICE), which landed local remakes in South Korea and the United States. Tedy Productions creates series for all major broadcasters in Israel. To date, the company has produced over 30 series across all channels, genres, and audiences. PRODUCTION CONTACT DETAILS liatr.work@gmail.com Back To Participants PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS 3RD EDITION SERIES CATALOGUE 3RD EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS JURY MENTORS TEAM
- Feigi Kozlovski
Holy Socks Holy Socks Screenwriters: Feigi Kozlovski, Ron Ninio Producer: Hagai Arad, Aharon Peer, Elad Peleg , Daroma Productions Language: Hebrew, Yiddish Format: 8 Episodes x 30 Minutes Send PITCHDECK LOGLINE A Hasidic woman, carrying a dark secret, and a stubborn secular kibbutznik, form an unlikely partnership to create the perfect pantyhose, unraveling the threads holding their worlds together. SYNOPSIS Holy Socks follows Shprintze (30), a Hasidic woman from Jerusalem, and Edna (65), a secular Kibbutznik from northern Israel -- two women from communities where collective principles outweigh individual needs, yet worlds apart in religion and culture. Shprintze carries an unresolved childhood trauma -- sexual abuse silenced by her community -- buried beneath an obsession with the runs in her pantyhose. When a disastrous job interview ends with yet another ruined pair of premium stockings, she travels to the kibbutz that manufactured them, where she meets Edna, a stubborn retiree who once managed the kibbutz hosiery factory. Despite their explosive first encounter, a bond forms. To her husband Shimshon's horror, they embark on a joint mission to create the perfect pantyhose that will never tear. Against a backdrop of barking dogs and flying falafel balls, they navigate family opposition and institutional obstacles. As their startup advances, Shprintze's buried trauma resurfaces. She reveals her secret to Edna, deepening their bond into a soul friendship. Together they produce a prototype, file a patent, and secure funding. But when they travel to Sri Lanka for manufacturing, money runs out and their conflicting natures ignite battles over control. Edna abandons the project in fury. Shimshon seizes the opportunity to distance Shprintze from Edna, arranging new funding. Shprintze launches the Golden Pantyhose alone to meteoric success -- until she discovers the truth behind the money. The revelation detonates her marriage in ways neither expected. Until Edna knocks on Shprintze's door. Because the triple-threaded pantyhose will never be torn apart. Told in a dark comedic Jerusalemite tone with pure sarcasm, the series has no reasonable logic -- but it has a vision to fix the world. And that's what matters. WRITER'S STATEMENT There is a well-known conflict between the world of religion and science: how many years has the world existed? On the other hand, there is broad consensus that since the dawn of time, this planet has been ruled by men who shape the world to their liking. If you survey the map of figures ruling the political and economic world, you can make a sweeping statement: if you are a man, white and rich, you can be infantile, talk nonsense at the level of a three-year-old, and still be seen as a genius. I am an ultra-Orthodox creator, COVID-fired, ambitious and strange, who went to study screenwriting at a relatively late age. I don't think in political correctness -- I filter my thoughts through a filter as thick as 70-denier pantyhose. Why? Because I am a woman, and I know that a woman is expected to be nice and keep quiet. A Haredi woman is expected to be holy and modest. I have felt since childhood that the expectation is for me to accept having no representation in the public sphere. I walk on eggshells so my children will have schools and matchmaking proposals -- and above all, not to annoy the zealots near my husband's business in Haredi Geula. To voice my opinion, which refuses to remain as voices in my head, I wrote the story of Shprintze and her imaginary friends. I am skeptical, but she is more obsessive than me and endlessly convinces me that one day she will fix the world. Intact stockings are a product we all need, much like a story with dark Jewish humor. I believe in this story and its ability to touch the delicate heartstrings of all of us -- and truly change worlds. ABOUT THE WRITERS Faigy Kozlovsky is an ultra-Orthodox screenwriter and graduate of the Ma'aleh School of Film in Jerusalem. In 2024, she directed her first short film, Tamar, as part of the "A Kitser" incubator for ultra-Orthodox women creators. The film screened at the Jerusalem Women's Film Festival and subsequently at the UK Jewish Film Festival. Additionally, the film is shown at ultra-Orthodox women's screening events that Faigy produces independently. Currently, Faigy serves as a Script Reader for one of Israel's film funds, while dedicating her time to developing and writing various film projects that have gained recognition from multiple Israeli funds—most notably the series Holy Socks, which she first conceived during her studies. Alongside the series development, Faigy is writing a personal book and delivers lectures and workshops on meaning and self-motivation. Faigy is the sixth of ten children, married, mother of four sons, and a grandmother. Ron Ninio is an award-winning Israeli director and showrunner. He co-created and directed Your Honor (2 seasons), winner of the Grand Prix at Series Mania and the world's most successful scripted format since 2020, remade in over 12 countries including the U.S. (Showtime), Germany, France, India, and South Korea. Other series include Arab Labour (Best Drama, Haifa and Jerusalem Film Festivals), A Touch Away (Israeli Academy Award, Best Drama Series and Best Director), and Catching the Sky (Ophir Award winner). His latest feature Farewell Column premiered at Warsaw Film Festival 2024. PRODUCER'S STATEMENT At Daroma Productions, we have built our reputation on giving voice to unheard stories and bringing Israel's peripheral communities to the center of the screen. Holy Socks represents exactly the kind of bold, original storytelling that has defined our mission since 2010. This project draws on themes we have explored across our filmography of over 40 films -- the tension between individual desire and collective pressure, the collision of different Israeli worlds, and the power of dark humor to illuminate serious social issues. From A Whore Like Me (Ophir Award winner) which tackled human trafficking, to This City (Warsaw IFF, Chelsea Film Festival triple winner) which reimagined Israeli urban culture through hip-hop noir, we have consistently proven that challenging content can find both critical acclaim and wide audiences. Holy Socks has the potential to be a breakout international series. The satirical comedy wrapped around a trauma narrative speaks a universal language -- the struggle for self-expression against oppressive systems exists in every culture. The unique Israeli setting, combining ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem with Kibbutz life, offers international audiences a fresh, visually rich world they have not seen before. We envision the series as an 8-episode series, each 30 minutes, perfectly suited for premium platform distribution. The dark comedy tone places it alongside internationally successful shows that balance humor with social commentary. With our extensive experience in international co-productions -- currently developing projects with partners in India, France, Germany, and the USA -- we are well positioned to bring Holy Socks to a global audience while maintaining the authentic Israeli voice that makes it special. We are seeking co-production partners, broadcasters, and platforms who share our passion for distinctive, character-driven storytelling that challenges conventions while entertaining audiences worldwide. PRODUCER PROFILE Founded in 2010, Daroma Productions is an award-winning Israeli company with over 40 productions -- features, documentaries, and series -- premiering at Berlinale, Busan, Tallinn, Warsaw, and DOC NYC, earning multiple Ophir Awards (Israel's Oscar equivalent). Daroma's series work includes Don't Care to Share (2021), an 8-episode web series that won Best Web Series at NYFA, Paris Play, and Black Swan festivals, with a nomination at the Indie Series Awards in Los Angeles. The company is developing a strong series slate: Holy Socks, a satirical dark comedy; Roots in Sand, a 6-part Bedouin crime drama; and Spies R Us, an international action-comedy. With co-production experience spanning India, France, Germany, and Portugal, Daroma is positioned to bring distinctive Israeli stories to global audiences through series partnerships. PRODUCTION CONTACT DETAILS va.elad@gmail.com Back To Participants PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS 3RD EDITION SERIES CATALOGUE 3RD EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS JURY MENTORS TEAM
- Hillel Rate
Terra Nullius PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS 3RD EDITION SERIES CATALOGUE 3RD EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS JURY MENTORS TEAM
- Feigi Kozlovski
Holy Socks Holy Socks Screenwriters: Hagai Arad, Aharon Peer, Elad Peleg Producer/s Hagai Arad, Aharon Peer, Elad Peleg , Daroma Productions Language: Hebrew, Yiddish Format: 8 Episodes x 30 Minutes Genre Drama, Comedy Send PITCHDECK LOGLINE A Hasidic woman, carrying a dark secret, and a stubborn secular kibbutznik, form an unlikely partnership to create the perfect pantyhose, unraveling the threads holding their worlds together. SYNOPSIS Holy Socks follows Shprintze (30), a Hasidic woman from Jerusalem, and Edna (65), a secular Kibbutznik from northern Israel -- two women from communities where collective principles outweigh individual needs, yet worlds apart in religion and culture. Shprintze carries an unresolved childhood trauma -- sexual abuse silenced by her community -- buried beneath an obsession with the runs in her pantyhose. When a disastrous job interview ends with yet another ruined pair of premium stockings, she travels to the kibbutz that manufactured them, where she meets Edna, a stubborn retiree who once managed the kibbutz hosiery factory. Despite their explosive first encounter, a bond forms. To her husband Shimshon's horror, they embark on a joint mission to create the perfect pantyhose that will never tear. Against a backdrop of barking dogs and flying falafel balls, they navigate family opposition and institutional obstacles. As their startup advances, Shprintze's buried trauma resurfaces. She reveals her secret to Edna, deepening their bond into a soul friendship. Together they produce a prototype, file a patent, and secure funding. But when they travel to Sri Lanka for manufacturing, money runs out and their conflicting natures ignite battles over control. Edna abandons the project in fury. Shimshon seizes the opportunity to distance Shprintze from Edna, arranging new funding. Shprintze launches the Golden Pantyhose alone to meteoric success -- until she discovers the truth behind the money. The revelation detonates her marriage in ways neither expected. Until Edna knocks on Shprintze's door. Because the triple-threaded pantyhose will never be torn apart. Told in a dark comedic Jerusalemite tone with pure sarcasm, the series has no reasonable logic -- but it has a vision to fix the world. And that's what matters. WRITER'S STATEMENT There is a well-known conflict between the world of religion and science: how many years has the world existed? On the other hand, there is broad consensus that since the dawn of time, this planet has been ruled by men who shape the world to their liking. If you survey the map of figures ruling the political and economic world, you can make a sweeping statement: if you are a man, white and rich, you can be infantile, talk nonsense at the level of a three-year-old, and still be seen as a genius. I am an ultra-Orthodox creator, COVID-fired, ambitious and strange, who went to study screenwriting at a relatively late age. I don't think in political correctness -- I filter my thoughts through a filter as thick as 70-denier pantyhose. Why? Because I am a woman, and I know that a woman is expected to be nice and keep quiet. A Haredi woman is expected to be holy and modest. I have felt since childhood that the expectation is for me to accept having no representation in the public sphere. I walk on eggshells so my children will have schools and matchmaking proposals -- and above all, not to annoy the zealots near my husband's business in Haredi Geula. To voice my opinion, which refuses to remain as voices in my head, I wrote the story of Shprintze and her imaginary friends. I am skeptical, but she is more obsessive than me and endlessly convinces me that one day she will fix the world. Intact stockings are a product we all need, much like a story with dark Jewish humor. I believe in this story and its ability to touch the delicate heartstrings of all of us -- and truly change worlds. ABOUT THE WRITERS Faigy Kozlovsky is an ultra-Orthodox screenwriter and graduate of the Ma'aleh School of Film in Jerusalem. In 2024, she directed her first short film, Tamar, as part of the "A Kitser" incubator for ultra-Orthodox women creators. The film screened at the Jerusalem Women's Film Festival and subsequently at the UK Jewish Film Festival. Additionally, the film is shown at ultra-Orthodox women's screening events that Faigy produces independently. Currently, Faigy serves as a Script Reader for one of Israel's film funds, while dedicating her time to developing and writing various film projects that have gained recognition from multiple Israeli funds—most notably the series Holy Socks, which she first conceived during her studies. Alongside the series development, Faigy is writing a personal book and delivers lectures and workshops on meaning and self-motivation. Faigy is the sixth of ten children, married, mother of four sons, and a grandmother. Ron Ninio is an award-winning Israeli director and showrunner. He co-created and directed Your Honor (2 seasons), winner of the Grand Prix at Series Mania and the world's most successful scripted format since 2020, remade in over 12 countries including the U.S. (Showtime), Germany, France, India, and South Korea. Other series include Arab Labour (Best Drama, Haifa and Jerusalem Film Festivals), A Touch Away (Israeli Academy Award, Best Drama Series and Best Director), and Catching the Sky (Ophir Award winner). His latest feature Farewell Column premiered at Warsaw Film Festival 2024. PRODUCER'S STATEMENT At Daroma Productions, we have built our reputation on giving voice to unheard stories and bringing Israel's peripheral communities to the center of the screen. Holy Socks represents exactly the kind of bold, original storytelling that has defined our mission since 2010. This project draws on themes we have explored across our filmography of over 40 films -- the tension between individual desire and collective pressure, the collision of different Israeli worlds, and the power of dark humor to illuminate serious social issues. From A Whore Like Me (Ophir Award winner) which tackled human trafficking, to This City (Warsaw IFF, Chelsea Film Festival triple winner) which reimagined Israeli urban culture through hip-hop noir, we have consistently proven that challenging content can find both critical acclaim and wide audiences. Holy Socks has the potential to be a breakout international series. The satirical comedy wrapped around a trauma narrative speaks a universal language -- the struggle for self-expression against oppressive systems exists in every culture. The unique Israeli setting, combining ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem with Kibbutz life, offers international audiences a fresh, visually rich world they have not seen before. We envision the series as an 8-episode series, each 30 minutes, perfectly suited for premium platform distribution. The dark comedy tone places it alongside internationally successful shows that balance humor with social commentary. With our extensive experience in international co-productions -- currently developing projects with partners in India, France, Germany, and the USA -- we are well positioned to bring Holy Socks to a global audience while maintaining the authentic Israeli voice that makes it special. We are seeking co-production partners, broadcasters, and platforms who share our passion for distinctive, character-driven storytelling that challenges conventions while entertaining audiences worldwide. PRODUCER PROFILE Founded in 2010, Daroma Productions is an award-winning Israeli company with over 40 productions -- features, documentaries, and series -- premiering at Berlinale, Busan, Tallinn, Warsaw, and DOC NYC, earning multiple Ophir Awards (Israel's Oscar equivalent). Daroma's series work includes Don't Care to Share (2021), an 8-episode web series that won Best Web Series at NYFA, Paris Play, and Black Swan festivals, with a nomination at the Indie Series Awards in Los Angeles. The company is developing a strong series slate: Holy Socks, a satirical dark comedy; Roots in Sand, a 6-part Bedouin crime drama; and Spies R Us, an international action-comedy. With co-production experience spanning India, France, Germany, and Portugal, Daroma is positioned to bring distinctive Israeli stories to global audiences through series partnerships. PRODUCTION CONTACT DETAILS va.elad@gmail.com Back To Participants PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS HOME SERIES LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY ADVISORY BOARD PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ
- Hillel Rate
Terra Nullius Add a Title Add a Title Send Send Einat Zilber-Damari Producers: , Hillel Rate Terra Nullius Lab Edition 4 2025 PITCH LOGLINE After losing custody of her son, Ivriya infiltrates a religious settlement to expose the men who framed her mother for deadly arson, forcing her to break the cycle of violence-or she loses him forever. SYNOPSIS On a remote mountain in Samaria, where a state-recognized settlement backed by state power, and a radical anarchist outpost, determined to dismantle that very system, are locked in uneasy proximity, Terra Nullius (Latin for “Nobody‘s Land”) unfolds as a slow-burn thriller about land, faith, and buried crimes. After her mother’s sudden death, Ivriya, daughter of a Peruvian convert from the forgotten “Inca Jews” (a unique community of indigenous Christian Peruvians from the Amazon who converted to Judaism and immigrated to Israel, yet remain eternal outsiders within the closed settler society), arrives to reclaim her mother’s land and is pulled into the mountain’s hidden war: religion vs. ideology and tradition vs. truth. Like her, Amir (30), an Arab-Israeli construction manager from Haifa, unwanted by both settlers and Palestinians, finds himself stranded between worlds. Their unlikely friendship reveals a shared terrain between erased identities, both yearning for roots, voice, and history. As Ivriya’s quest to uncover her mother’s injustice slips toward revenge, the series echoes prophet Ezekiel’s warning; “The fathers ate sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge”. Terra Nullius is a story of generational wounds, fragile identities, and the price demanded by sacred land. WRITER'S STATEMENT Terra Nullius unfolds in a raw, biblical landscape, inside a charged religious-political reality. But this is not only a political series. At its core, it is an intimate story about inheritance. About what we receive from our parents, from our land, from our faith, and what it costs to refuse it. I grew up within the religious-national world the series portrays. The language of redemption, sacrifice, and destiny shaped my childhood. I know its beauty. I also know its silence. That tension, between belonging and doubt - is the emotional engine of this series. Like the works of Mare of Easttown, True Detective, The Returned, and Unbelievable, atmosphere and inner landscapes are as central as plot. Here too, an investigation slowly becomes a crime. A buried secret mirrors the heroine’s deeper search for repair, not only of her mother’s past, but of herself. The visual language draws from filmmakers such as Tarkovsky and Malick, who treat landscape not as backdrop but as memory. On this mountain, nature is not passive; it absorbs history. The wind carries accusation. The silence holds guilt. The terrain remembers what the characters try to forget. This series emerges from a place I know from within, not as accusation, not as propaganda, but as confrontation. In Israel today, the struggle over land is inseparable from the struggle over truth, and both are passed from generation to generation like an heirloom no one dares to question. Through Ivriya, I wanted to ask a simple, painful question: If you inherit violence, are you destined to repeat it, or can you end it without burning everything down? PRODUCER'S STATEMENT Sometimes the truth lies buried so deep that reaching it demands courage, patience, and a willingness to confront what others prefer to keep hidden. I place my trust and belief in the creator of this series and in what he has to say, as someone who speaks from a deeply personal point of view—someone who knows the land, the people, and the community from the inside, not as an outsider looking in. That intimate familiarity gives the story an authenticity that cannot be fabricated or imitated. This is not just a personal story, but a courageous act of reckoning. It challenges silence, exposes long-standing power structures, and asks difficult questions about faith, loyalty, and justice. It dares to look directly at inherited trauma and the price paid by those who are born into narratives they did not choose, yet are forced to carry. This is a story that must be heard—because it gives voice to those who were denied one, because it refuses to simplify complex realities, and because it insists on empathy even in the face of violence and loss. Above all, it is a story that offers inspiration: to women who fight to reclaim their agency, to men and women who struggle against cycles of fear and oppression, and to anyone who believes that truth, once revealed, has the power to heal, transform, and create change. LOOKING FOR International Distributors, Sales Agents, Co-producers, Broadcasters, Platforms, National and/or regional fund, Private Funds / Banks Back To Participants HOME SERIES LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY ADVISORY BOARD PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS
- DECISION MAKERS | JSFL
JSFL's filmmakers have the opportunity to meet with decision makers and worldwide film professionals. LOAD MORE Producer Agnieszka Dziedzic Koi Studios aga.a.dziedzic@gmail.com Director of Acquisitions Alexis Hoffman BAC Films a.hofmann@bacfilms.fr Head of Acquisitions Alfred Deragne Indie Sales aderagne@indiesales.eu Executive Director Anne Laurent-Delage Austrian Films anne.laurent@austrianfilms.com Producer Antonin Svoboda Coop99 welcome@coop99.at International Sales Manager Austin Kennedy Magnolia Pictures akennedy@magpictures.com Artistic Director Ava Cahen Semaine de la Critique a.cahen@semainedelacritique.com Producer Barbara Albert Coop99 barb.albert@web.de Producer Barbara Pichler KGP Filmproduktion pichler@kgp.co.at Partner Berenice Vincent Totem Films berenice@totem-films.com Producer Caroline Daube Royal Pony Film daube@royalponyfilm.com Acquisitions Manager Claudia Solano Match Factory claudia.solano@matchfactory.de Producer Damir Ibrahimovic Deblokada Film Production Producer Dominique Welinski DW Films dwelinski@gmail.com Head of Press and Public Relations Dr. Olga Havenetidis Film Commission Bayern olga.havenetidis@fff-bayern.de Festivals and Markets Emelie Dauptain Austrian Film emilie.dauptain@austrianfilms.com Programmer Evgeny Gusyatinskiy IFFR e.gusyatinskiy@iffr.com Artistic Director, Tribeca Film Festival Frederic Boyer Tribeca Film Festival fboyer@tribecafilmfestival.org Managing Director Gertraude Müller Ernstberger GWFF gme@gwff.de Producer Hannah Janal Bootstrap Film hannahjanal@gmail.com Managing Director Helge Albers Hamburg Film albers@moin-filmfoerderung.de Commissioning Editor, ZDF Holger Stern ZDF Stern.H@zdf.de Producer Hugo Grumbar Embankment Films hg@embankmentfilms.com Director Isaac Zablocki Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan izablocki@mmjccm.org Director and Founder Jamie Bialkower Jump Street Films jamie@jumpstreetfilms.com.au Managing Partner Jana Edelbaum Ideal Partners idealpartnersj@mac.com Assistant Manager Jenny Cheng Asian Film Academy jenny.cheng@afa-academy.com CEO Joana Vicente Sundance Film Institute elda_monterroso@sundance.org Executive Director Josie Lin Asian Film Academy josie.lin@afa-academy.com Director Jovan Marjanovic Sarajevo Film Festival joja@sff.ba DECISION MAKERS 2023 HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS
- MENTORS SERIES LAB 3 | JSFL
4 acclaimed script editors mentor the JSFL participants: Clare Downs, Jacques Akchoti, Thomas Hailer and Sari Azoulay Turgeman. One of Israel’s leading film and television writers. His feature films include “Someone to Run With” and “The Human Resource Manager”, that were featured in numerous international film festivals and won nine Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film and Best Screenplay. Stollman’s work for television includes the 2009 original mystery series “Pillars of Smoke” which he co-created and wrote. The series became a cult hit in Israel. Noah was co-creator and executive producer of HBO’S 2019 drama “Our Boys” and was head writer for the third and fourth seasons of the Netflix action-drama hit series “Fauda”. Lately, Noah co-created and co-wrote the supernatural suspense drama “The Malevolent Bride”, an Israeli-US collaboration. Noah Stollman Graduate of Tel Aviv University majoring in Psychology and Cinematic Studies (script-writing track). From 2009-2016 she served as a development manager at July August Productions. Nishri worked as script editor for Israeli television series such as “Yellow Peppers” by Keren Margalit (that was made into a BBC series), “Sirens” by Shachar Magen, and “Sleeping Bears” by Keren Margalit. Nishri took part in Biennale College Cinema, TFL extend, EAVE and Torino Film Lab as script consultant. Nishri’s content company, Quiddity, served as associate producer for canal+ tv series “Possessions”, and for Hagai Levi’s series “Scenes from a Marriage” made for HBO. Ossi Nishri Keren Margalit is an award-winning screenwriter and director, and a leading Israeli television creator. A graduate of the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film School (1998), her graduation film won Best Script Award at the Munich Student Film Festival. Margalit’s 2002 debut film, All I’ve Got, was purchased by Paramount Pictures for remake. Her first series as director-writer, Yellow Peppers (2010) won the 2011 Israeli Television Academy Award and was purchased for remake in the UK (The A-Word). It was screened at the UN as part of autism awareness day in 2011. Sleeping Bears, her most recent series, premiered at the Berlinale 2018 to rave local and international reviews. Keren Margalit Gal Zaid is a creator, director and actor with over 20 years of experience in Israeli television. As head of scripted television at EndemolShine Israel, Zaid’s role is to develop fresh shows and unique talent into material with global appeal. Previously, Zaid was the head of drama both at Keshet and at Channel 10. He script-edited and starred in the world-renowned series, “Prisoners of War”, which was remade for Showtime as the Emmy Award winning international hit “Homeland”. He developed “Traffic Light”, the most successful comedy series in Israel to this day, which won an International Emmy Award for Best Comedy and was later sold to FOX. Gal Zaid MENTORS 2024 PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS 3RD EDITION SERIES CATALOGUE 3RD EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS JURY MENTORS TEAM
- FILM FAQ | JSFL
All the answers you need about getting into the Jerusalem Sam Spiegel International Film Lab. Can a project be submitted after it was rejected in the past? A project may be submitted once more (total of two submissions) after receiving special permission from the JSFL, based on the development of the project between both submissions. In order to receive this permission, the applicant must send the JSFL a description of the major changes the project has undergone since the first submission, up to 2 weeks before the submission deadline. Can a director/writer submit a number of projects in the same year? A director/writer may submit one project per JSFL edition. Can a producer submit a number of projects in the same year? Can more than one be selected in the same edition? A producer may submit two projects. Two projects by the same producer can be selected for the same edition. The website states the submitted project must be the first or second feature film. Can it be the director's third feature and producer’s first/second? The submitted project must be the first or second feature-length narrative film directed by the director/writer. There is no minimum or maximum of films for the producer, although the JSFL does look at producers' experience as part of the feasibility of the project. Can I apply to JSFL if I’m not a graduate of Sam Spiegel Film School? The JSFL is open to graduates of all film schools in Israel and worldwide. Can I apply to JSFL if I’m not a graduate of any film school? Yes, as long as you meet all the criteria as defined in the eligibility (https://labs.jsfs.co.il/filmapplication)section. Does the project have to be an English speaking film? The film can speak any language, but the working script must be in English, as English is the working language of the JSFL. Which of the project team members need to participate at which of the three sessions? The filmmaker and co-writer or co-director, must participate in all three sessions (December/January, March/April & July). The producer must participate in the third session (July) and in one meeting at each of the first two sessions - via zoom. What happens if the project has two screenwriters? Can a second writer take part? The JSFL will cover the expenses of the filmmaker as detailed in JSFL/PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS. A second writer may join the sessions at their own expense, and share the same room assigned to the filmmaker. I'd like to submit an Israeli project. Will I need to translate my submission materials/script during the process? Or can I submit all my materials in Hebrew? Israeli projects are submitted in Hebrew. All the materials, including the script if you are selected to submit a full script, will be reviewed in Hebrew. Having said that, if the Israeli applicant prefers to apply in English, he or she may do so, after receiving a written approval from the Lab's staff. FILM FAQ HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS
- MENTORS | JSFL
4 acclaimed script editors mentor the JSFL participants: Clare Downs, Jacques Akchoti, Thomas Hailer and Sari Azoulay Turgeman. Founding member of the script analysis team of the Creative Europe Producer Training Programme, EAVE, Clare has been with the JSFL since its inception in 2011 and in that context she mentored JSFL films such as The Kindergarten Teacher (Critics Week, Cannes 2014); The Accused (Venice, Toronto 2018); Murina (Camera d’Or, Directors’ Fortnight 2021); Cinema Sabaya (Israel’s Oscar submission 2022). She was Director of the Association of Independent Producers (1978-1980); Director of International Creative Affairs for The Ladd Company (1981-83); Producer of award-winning films - The Dress (1985) BAFTA best short; the feature High Season (1987) San Sebastian, Best Screenplay. A much sought-after consultant to various film funds and many international script workshops. Clare Downs UK Screenwriter and script consultant, Jacques has been an integral part of the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab since its inception in 2011. A graduate of NYU, he has worked with directors such as Bresson and Von Trier. He was involved with the development of award-winning films, many of which premiered at Cannes: A Screaming Man (Jury Prize, 2010 Cannes); Girls of the Sun (Cannes 2018); Raw (Cannes Critics Week 2016). A teacher of writing and directing at La Femis since 1988, Jacques has facilitated many international screenwriting and development workshops. Jacques Akchoti France Thomas Hailer is the Artistic Director of the Nordic Film Days, Lübeck. From 2008 to 2019 he was responsible for the program of the International Competition as Berlinale curator alongside the festival director. He has been working as a dramaturg and script consultant since 1995. As a freelance dramaturg, he supervised, among others, the film adaptation of A.S. Neill‘s classic children‘s book The Green Cloud as well as Bernd Sahling‘s German Film Award-winning feature film The Duds. His current projects include script consulting for Barbara Kronenberg‘s directorial debut Mission Ulja Funk which premiered at the Berlinale 2021. Thomas Hailer Germany Sari Azoulay Turgeman is a director, screenwriter and script doctor, born in Cannes, France. Her first feature film “Wait For Me״ had its world premiere in competition 1-2, at the 2022 Warsaw Film Festival. It won the Best International Film prize at the Colluseum International Film Festival, and at the Film Festival One Country One Film. In 2008, she founded her own company for script consulting services (Scriptlight.com) and developed her own screenwriting method, which she teaches in professional workshops and masterclasses. Sari works as an artistic consultant for the Israeli Film Funds and as a mentor in workshops worldwide. She developed, script edited and screen wrote series such as Fauda (seasons 2, 3 4, 5) . She script edited the films “The Cousin” and “The Testimony”, which both took part in the Venice film festival and more. Lately she began work on her next feature film. Sari Azoulay Turgeman Israel MENTORS 2024 HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS PAST MENTORS Chief Content Officer at Beta Film GmbH, Koby has more than 17 years of experience in television and film. A graduate of the Sam Spiegel Film and Television School, Koby was previously chief content officer at YES, Israel’s leading satellite and OTT platform. Under his tenure, his credits included Fauda; Your Honour; On the Spectrum; Magpie; The Good Cop and Just for Today. Koby Gal-Raday Israel Avi Nesher's acclaimed films have played a major part in Israeli cinema's success and rise to international prominence. His films have netted multiple Israeli Academy Award wins and over two dozen nominations. Among his best-known features are Turn Left at the End of the World; The Troupe, which has become a cult classic; and Rage & Glory. His latest film is the 2023 feature The Monkey House. Nesher was awarded the Cinematic Excellence Award at the Haifa Film Festival; the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival and a star on the Avenue of the Stars. Avi Nesher Israel Eran Riklis is one of Israel's most acclaimed film makers and has been working as director, writer and producer for over thirty years. Among his best-known features are Lemon Tree; The Syrian Bride and Dancing Arabs. Riklis is a graduate of the National Film & TV School in Beaconsfield, England and also studied at the film department of the Tel Aviv University. Eran Riklis Israel Hagai Levi is a writer, director and producer who, among others, wrote and directed the adaptation of Scenes from a Marriage for HBO, in 2015 Levi won the Golden Globe award for best drama series as the co-creator and co-producer of the series The Affair (Showtime, 2014); he co-created, co-directed and co-produced the HBO series Our Boys which won the Israeli academy award for best series. In 2005, Levi created, co-produced and co-directed the Israeli TV series BiTipul, later adapted to the HBO's series In Treatment (2007-2010). Hagai Levi Israel Gino Ventriglia is a script consultant for cinema and television production companies. He was the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship and achieved a double Master of Fine Arts in Directing and Screenwriting at USC. He has written for both screen and television and has been a tutor with the Torino Film Lab Writers’ Room (Transmedia Projects) and with the Biennale College Cinema, Cinema Festival of Venice. Gino Ventriglia Italy
- HOME | JSFL
The Sam Spiegel International Film Lab (JSFL) supports bold storytellers, who look deeply into the human experience in search for their unique truth. FILM LAB SERIES LAB LABS NEWS LOAD ALL NEWS "Hold Onto Me" Wins Audience Award at Sundance Film Festival "Zejtune" to Hold World Premiere at Göteborg Film Festival Session 1 of the International Film Lab's 14th Edition Concludes in Jerusalem! World Premiere in Sundance: Two Feature Films Developed at the Lab to Premiere at Sundance Film Fest The JSFL supports story tellers whose voices need to be heard and creates opportunities for a multitude of stories to reach audiences. Since its launch in 2011, The Sam Spiegel International Film Lab has become a leading force in the development of groundbreaking feature films by some of the world’s most promising talents. In December 2021 the Sam Spiegel Series Lab was launched with the aim of creating a bridge between Israeli creators and international audiences. The Sam Spiegel Labs support bold storytellers, who look deeply into the human experience in search for their unique truth. AND IN THE PEOPLE WHO TELL THEM WE BELIEVE IN STORIES LABS TEAM The Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film School is the leading film school in Israel. It’s on the Hollywood Reporter list of 15 best global film schools for 7 years in a row, and was founded in 1989. The JSFS invests in young filmmakers telling the story of Israeli society with all its facets, placing the School as a hub for the flourishing Israeli cinema. Currently JSFS has 180 students enrolled in two tracks: the full track, a four-year program; and the screenwriting track, a two-year program. The School also runs a preparatory program for Arabic speakers from East Jerusalem, to ensure that this population has a chance to apply and learn at the School. Thus far, Sam Spiegel produces around 30 films a year and its graduates form the backbone of the Israeli cinema and television industry. Among the most prominent alumni are Golden Bear winner Nadav Lapid; “Shtisel” creator Yehonatan Indursky; and award-winning directors Rama Burshtein and Talya Lavie. ABOUT JSFS SCHOOL PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS
- PROFESSIONAL GUESTS | JSFL
4 acclaimed script editors mentor the JSFL participants: Clare Downs, Jacques Akchoti, Thomas Hailer and Sari Azoulay Turgeman. Michel Franco Michel Franco is an award-winning filmmaker who was born in 1979 in Mexico City. The films he has written, directed, and produced have helped put Mexican cinema in the global spotlight. His most recent feature film, DREAMS, premiered at Berlinale 2025 and stars Academy Award®- winner Jessica Chastain, Isaac Hernández and Rupert Friend. His other films include MEMORY, starring Jessica Chastain and Peter Sarsgaard, who won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film FesXval; SUNDOWN, starring Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg (in CompeXXon, Venice Film FesXval 2021), NEW ORDER (Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, CompeXXon, Venice Film FesXval 2020), APRIL'S DAUGHTER (Special Jury Prize, Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film FesXval 2017), CHRONIC, starring Tim Roth (Best Screenplay, CompeXXon, Cannes Film FesXval 2015), and AFTER LUCIA (Prize Un Certain Regard, Cannes Film FesXval 2012). He has also produced films under his Teorema banner including Lorenzo Vigas’ DESDE ALLÁ (Golden Lion, CompeXXon, Venice Film FesXval 2015), David Zonana’s two first features MANO DE OBRA (Official SelecXon, Toronto InternaXonal Film FesXval 2019) and HEROIC (Official SelecXon, Sundance Film FesXval 2023). Shadi Jamil Habib Allah Screenwriter-director born and raised in Ein Mahel, a village near Nazareth, Palestine. Graduated summa cum laude from the Sam Spiegel Film & Television School in 2019. Habib Allah holds a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Jordan University of Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan. In 2018, he created the ARCHETIVE STUDIO for architectural projects. He leads weekly architecture & photography workshops with youth, teaching them to be creative thinkers in space. Habib Allah’s award-winning films portray Palestinian life in the West Bank and Israel in both documentary and fiction. He is currently developing his first feature-length film, which was selected for the Locarno Film Festival and the Asia Pacific Screen Lab's immersive development programme. Since 2021, Habib Allah has been a lecturer of screenwriting, directing and editing at Sam Spiegel’s Study programs in Arabic. Benjamin Freidenberg Screenwriter-director and film studies scholar at the Hebrew University who graduated summa cum laude from the Sam Spiegel Film & Television School in 2009. Freidenberg is a lecturer of International Cinema and the Head of Study Programs in Arabic at Sam Spiegel, which operates film training and education for youth and adults in Palestinian cities and refugee camps. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in linguistics and is currently completing his PhD at the Department of Italian and French Studies. His research focuses on film language, targeting the linkage between historical linguistics, trauma and the development of cinematographic theories in European thought. In 2016, he founded the Jerusalem Filmmakers Guild (NGO) to represent Jerusalem-based filmmakers, including Palestinians from East Jerusalem. In 2019, he co-founded the Jerusalem International Women's Film Festival. Benjamin previously worked as a content writer and researcher for the Jerusalem Cinematheque Film Archives and Harvard University Images Collections. Maya Dreifuss Maya Dreifuss is a filmmaker, Senior Professor, and Head of the Film Directing and Production Department at the Steve Tisch School of Film and Television at Tel Aviv University. Following her award-winning debut feature She Is Coming Home (2013), and two previous short films that were screened at the Cannes Film Festival, Maya has written and directed Highway 65, an Israel-French co-production thriller. The film won the grand prize at the Reims Polar Thriller Film Festival 2024, received wide distribution in France, and later that year was nominated for 9 awards at the Israeli Academy. Omri Marcus Omri Marcus is an experienced content creator and creative director who specializes in harnessing the powers of groundbreaking technology. Tasked with leading Gitam-BBDO, the largest media conglomerate in Israel, into the era of artificial intelligence, Omri manages multifaceted projects that span creativity, technology, business, and strategy. Following the events of October 7th, Omri was also tasked with overseeing the company's Creative War Room, producing a wide array of videos and images aimed at conveying Israel's perspective to specific audiences. Marcus has extensive experience in all aspects of content creation, from developing a popular dating show in China, through creating innovative mobile apps in India to leading a successful political campaign in Israel. With over 20 years of experience generating award-winning content worldwide, Omri thrives on driving new ideas from concept to launch and seeing them through high growth to meet business objectives. During his time in a multi-year development contract with Red-Arrow Entertainment and in his work as creative director at companies such as Viacom and Screenz, Omri delivered content that pushed boundaries while still meeting audience engagement, retention, and market share KPIs. As a comedy writer, Omri has earned three Israeli TV Academy awards for his work as part of the writing staff of "Eretz Nehederet" (What a Wonderful Country), one of Israel's most successful comedy shows. Omri is the founder of Comedy for a Change - an international community of comedy writers dedicated to leveraging the power of comedy for driving social change. He also received a distinguished grant from Europe’s Format Academy for Entertainment, Television & New Media (EMC), an accolade reserved for those shaping the future of media. Omri also contributes to various publications, sharing his insights on technology, content, and contemporary issues. PROFESSIONAL GUESTS 2026 PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS HOME FILM LAB WHO'S WHO MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY SCOUTS AND PITCHING DECISION MAKERS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ
- MENTORS | JSFL
4 acclaimed script editors mentor the JSFL participants: Clare Downs, Jacques Akchoti, Thomas Hailer and Sari Azoulay Turgeman. PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS PARTICIPATION REGULATION SERIES LAB PARTICIPANTS MENTORS PROFESSIONAL GUESTS JURY PARTICIPATION APPLICATION RULES & REGULATIONS FAQ SERIES LAB FILM LAB MENTORS JURY DECISION MAKERS SCOUTS AND PITCHING PROFESSIONAL GUESTS PARTICIPANTS & PROJECTS LAB FILMS PARTICIPATION APPLICATION PARTICIPANTS OBLIGATIONS RULES & REGULATIONS FILM FAQ FILM LAB HOME TEAM NEWS LABS 13TH EDITION CATALOGUE 13TH EDITION PARTICIPANTS AND PROJECTS MENTORS JURY TEAM LAB FILMS PITCH TRAINER In 2012, after more than 20 years in distribution, Dominique Welinski founded DW, a production and consulting company. Since then, she curates and produces the Factory program at Director’s Fortnight in Cannes. She has produced or co-produced among others: Sanjeewa Pushpakumara Burning Birds; Alireza Khatami’s Oblivion Verses; Midi Z Road to Mandalay; John Tengrove The Wound; Suba Sivakumaran House of My Fathers and Yona Rozenkier The Dive and The Road to Eilat. DW is currently developing films in Sri Lanka, Israel, India and Greece. The pitch training is in courtesy of the Shuster Polakoff foundation. Dominique Welinski France Founding member of the script analysis team of the Creative Europe Producer Training Programme, EAVE, Clare has been with the JSFL since its inception in 2011 and in that context she mentored JSFL films such as The Kindergarten Teacher (Critics Week, Cannes 2014); The Accused (Venice, Toronto 2018); Murina (Camera d’Or, Directors’ Fortnight 2021); Cinema Sabaya (Israel’s Oscar submission 2022). She was Director of the Association of Independent Producers (1978-1980); Director of International Creative Affairs for The Ladd Company (1981-83); Producer of award-winning films - The Dress (1985) BAFTA best short; the feature High Season (1987) San Sebastian, Best Screenplay. A much sought-after consultant to various film funds and many international script workshops. Clare Downs UK Screenwriter and script consultant, Jacques has been an integral part of the Sam Spiegel International Film Lab since its inception in 2011. A graduate of NYU, he has worked with directors such as Bresson and Von Trier. He was involved with the development of award-winning films, many of which premiered at Cannes: A Screaming Man (Jury Prize, 2010 Cannes); Girls of the Sun (Cannes 2018); Raw (Cannes Critics Week 2016). A teacher of writing and directing at La Femis since 1988, Jacques has facilitated many international screenwriting and development workshops. Jacques Akchoti France Thomas Hailer is the Artistic Director of the Nordic Film Days, Lübeck. From 2008 to 2019 he was responsible for the program of the International Competition as Berlinale curator alongside the festival director. He has been working as a dramaturg and script consultant since 1995. As a freelance dramaturg, he supervised, among others, the film adaptation of A.S. Neill‘s classic children‘s book The Green Cloud as well as Bernd Sahling‘s German Film Award-winning feature film The Duds. His current projects include script consulting for Barbara Kronenberg‘s directorial debut Mission Ulja Funk which premiered at the Berlinale 2021. Thomas Hailer Germany Sari Azoulay Turgeman is a director, screenwriter and script doctor, born in Cannes, France. Her first feature film “Wait For Me״ had its world premiere in competition 1-2, at the 2022 Warsaw Film Festival. It won the Best International Film prize at the Colluseum International Film Festival, and at the Film Festival One Country One Film. In 2008, she founded her own company for script consulting services (Scriptlight.com) and developed her own screenwriting method, which she teaches in professional workshops and masterclasses. Sari works as an artistic consultant for the Israeli Film Funds and as a mentor in workshops worldwide. She developed, script edited and screen wrote series such as Fauda (seasons 2, 3 4, 5) . She script edited the films “The Cousin” and “The Testimony”, which both took part in the Venice film festival and more. Lately she began work on her next feature film. Sari Azoulay Turgeman Israel MENTORS 2025
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