First Exposure - Shorts Program

Five standout short films from the past year – special premiere screening with the filmmakers in attendance

68 minutes | Israel 2026

The Burden of Days

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Dan Shoval 

Pro.: Noa Fridman , Tom Shoval , Michael Moshonov 

Sc.: Dan Shoval 

DP.: Lael Utnik

Ed.: Yotam Kislev 

Soundtrack Editing: Yaniv Sela 

Music: Lior Perla and Bentsi Gafni 

Cast: Uri Sanderson, Or Burstein, Adar Sidlik, Liron Levo, Kobi Elishkevich, Shiran Moshonov 

Casting: Dan Shoval and Michael Moshonov 

Source: Izzy FIlms 

Uri can't fall asleep at night. His father decides to help by telling him a bedtime story. The story is not necessarily a suitable one for this occasion, but Uri is a big boy and it's time for him to hear it. 

14 min. | Hebrew  | English Subtitles

הלופ של ג‘מילה  جميلة في دارة  Jamila's Loop

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Gili Tsalik Idan Levy 

Pro.: Gili Tsalik Idan Levy 

Sc.:  Gili Tsalik, Idan Levy

Animator: Idan Levy

Sound designer: Uri Kalian

Produced with the support of: Negev Film Found, Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, Mifal HaPais Council for the Culture and Arts, CoPro - The Israeli Content Marketing Foundation

Jamila (16) exists, but without an ID she is trapped in a loop trying to prove it. Stripped of basic rights, her only dream is to teach math in her Negev tribe. But how can she achieve this if she legally doesn't exist?

12 min. | Arabic | Hebrew and English Subtitles

Let There Be Light

Israel | 2026

Dir.:  Tamar Eckhaus 

Pro.: Lev Orlov 

Sc.: Tamar Eckhaus 

Soundtrack Editing: Shahaf Wagshal 

Music: Guy Horesh 

Source:  Lev Orlov Films 

Produced with the support of: Makor Film Foundation, HAIFA ARTS FOUNDATION 

A flickering streetlight becomes a site of pilgrimage when people begin to believe its flashes spell out “yes” and “no” — guiding them through the unbearable uncertainty of existence.

12 min. | Hebrew  | English Subtitles

Convert

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Or Sinai 

Pro.: Tal Moskovich , Matan Glazovsky 

Sc.: Or Sinai 

DP.: Saar Mizrahi 

Ed.: Michal Holland 

Soundtrack Editing: Shahaf Wagshall 

Music: Gal Lev 

Cast: Yael Elkana, Chancela Mavua Mongoza, Evelin Hagoel, Tzahi Grad, Roy Assaf, Alona Nahmias, Feliza Bascara-Zohar, Dar Sinai, Omer Sinai 

Casting: Prague Bienvenisty 

Source: Daizy Films 

Produced with the support of:

Gesher Multicultural Film Fund

Shira and her Congolese boyfriend Sean are finally invited to Shira's parents, in order to make peace. Slowly they will discover that despite their great love, there is still a tiny thing that separates them.

17 min. | Hebrew  | English Subtitles

Hard as a Rock

Israel | 2026

Dir.: Itamar Schwartz  Carmel Kandel

Pro.: Itamar Schwartz Carmel Kandel

Sc.: Carmel Kandel 

DP.: Nadav Porat-Chomsky 

Ed.: Maya Rudich 

Soundtrack Editing: Carmel Kandel , Maya Rudich 

Cast: Carmel Kandel , Avi Azulay, Noa Har Zion 

Casting: Carmel Kandel , Itamar Schwartz 

Alona receives Nati's Valentine's Day gift - a sentimental stone from the battlefield - only to  discover later it actually came from their trash bin, igniting a confrontation about why he still hasn't said "I love you”.

13 min. | Hebrew  | Hebrew and English Subtitles