Shorts Program - Women: Fragments and Dreams

Five films about women, dreams, and how they shatter

81 minutes | Israel 2026

The Blood Thread

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Nasra Azbarga

Directing Mentor: Sigalit Banai

Pro.: Ronen Machlis Balzam , Hila Guy Avisar

Sc.: Nasra Azbarga

DP.: May Abadi-Grebler

Ed.: Rana Abu Fraiha-Asyag

Soundtrack Editing: Yair Sitbon

Music: Yair Sitbon

Cast: Nida Azbargha, Haitham Omri, Umm Salah al-Huzayel

Eliza Abd al-Quader  : Casting

Source: Metaphor

Produced with the support of: Negev Film Fund, Israel Lottery Council for Culture & Arts

Yumna, a Bedouin widow, fights to reclaim her children, who are being held by her brother-in-law, Ali, who demands the insurance money she received after her husband’s death. Under pressure and threats, her mother urges her to marry him. Yumna must decide how far she is willing to go to get her children back. She embarks on a struggle that becomes increasingly complicated.

A pioneering film by a Bedouin woman filmmaker, the film exposes a reality in which what is often referred to as “honor killing” may conceal economic interests, power struggles, and control.

10 min. | Arabic | Hebrew and English Subtitles

Fragments of Silence

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Adisse Siyum 

Pro.: Adisse Siyum 

Sc.: Adisse Siyum 

DP.: Roy Tahar, Awetash Abay 

Ed.: Tehila Ben Zakay Danao 

Soundtrack Editing: Ophir lokay 

 Original Music:  None

Cast: 

Main Documentary Subjects: Anchinallo Siyum, Malkam Siyum

Supporting Documentary Subject: Leah Siyum

Actress: Or Siyum 

Casting: Adisse Siyum 

Source: Ariel University

Produced with the support of:

Israel Film Fund

[Synopsis]

In this film, I follow my mother, Anchinallo, and my aunt, Malkam, two women from the Ethiopian Jewish community who were married as children in Ethiopia, at the ages of 13 and 7, to spouses who were also minors. For the first time they speak openly about a story that was kept  hidden for many years. The film delves into memories of village life and examines the emotional and social cost of a reality in which child marriage was routine, as well as the courage it takes to confront it today.

24 min. | Amharic, Hebrew   | Hebrew and English Subtitles

Valley Of The Pillar 

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Klil Kovesh 

Pro.: Harel Ben Melech 

Sc.: Klil Kovesh

DP.: Zohar Mutayn

Ed.: Shai Blanc-Mashiach

Soundtrack Editing: Rotem Dror, Dany Zernitsky

Music: Adam Weingrod

Cast: Orna Banai, Amir Banai 

Casting: Klil Kovesh

Source: tiarafilms 

Produced with the support of: The Tal Grant in Memory of Tal Lahat, Galil Film Fund , "Utopia" camera equipment. 

A few hours’ drive from a war zone, a mother and her son set out on a hike in the Valley of the Pillar. What begins as a peaceful day in nature turns into a pivotal moment, as the mother is forced to confront a difficult decision, one that compels her to let go.

15 min. | Hebrew | English Subtitles

Stars

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Hila Elena Royzenman 

Pro.: Karen Belz 

Sc.: Hila Elena Royzenman 

DP.: Miky Wajnerman 

Ed.: Arik Lahav- Leibovich , Ayala Bengad 

Soundtrack Editing: Yossi Appelbaum 

Cast: Lenna Fraifeld, Anatoliy Belliy, Svetlana Demidov 

Casting: Hila Elena Royzenman 

Source: Binnenhof Productions 

Produced with the support of: Arava Film Fund, Gesher Film Fund 

The romance between dancers Yana and Sasha, Ukrainian immigrants, fell apart. Sasha returned to Kyiv and thrived; Yana stayed in Israel and gave up. A decade later, they reunite for one charged day and night trying to bridge the years and maybe rekindle love in a world torn by war.

17 min. | Russian | Hebrew and English Subtitles

A Night of Murders in Tel Aviv

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Guy Haliwa 

Pro.: Guy Haliwa and Erelle Shartiel

Sc.: Guy Haliwa 

DP.: Guy Haliwa 

Ed.: Guy Haliwa 

Soundtrack: Phase 1000 

Cast: Sofia Gendelman / Dan Rotshtein / Boaz Shaham / Yoel Ron / Tamar Troudart / Rachel Ben David 

Casting: Guy Haliwa / Erelle Shartiel 

Source: Produced with the support of:

Rimon is a young a dancer who wakes up to a night she couldn't dream of. Intentionally silent. 16mm B&W.

16 min. | No Dialogue