Jury

Carmel Competition - Jury

Eran Kolirin

Israeli director and screenwriter, a four-time Ophir Award winner for his films "The Band's Visit" and "Let There Be Morning". His work has received global recognition, with screenings at prestigious festivals such as the Cannes Film Festival and inclusion in the official competition at the Venice Film Festival. His films have not only garnered awards but have also been distributed worldwide. Some of his notable works include "Let There Be Morning" (2021), which secured seven Ophir Awards; "Beyond the Mountains and Hills" (2016), featured in the official Cannes Film Festival "Un Certain Regard" section; "The Exchange" (2011), part of the official competition at the Venice Film Festival; and "The Band's Visit" (2007), winner of the European Film Award for European Discovery of the Year. Beyond his directorial achievements, he has also contributed as a screenwriter to various series and films.

Laila Pakalniņa

Latvian film director and screenwriter. Graduated from the Moscow Film Institute (VGIK), Department of Film Direction. A director and scriptwriter of 32 documentaries, 5 shorts, and 6 fiction features, amounting to a total of 43 films, 2 children, 1 husband, 2 dogs and 2 bicycles. And many ideas for new films. Her works have graced the official programs of prestigious international festivals, including Cannes, Venice, Berlinale, Locarno, Karlovy Vary, Rome, Tallinn, among others, where they have won numerous awards. Among her films are: The Shoe (1998), Pitons (2003), Dream Land (2004), The Hostage (2006), Silence (2009), Dawn (2015), Spoon (2019), In the Mirror (2020). 

Giona A. Nazzaro 

A Swiss film critic and author, serves as the artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival. He also holds the position of General Delegate at the Venice International Film Critics' Week, and a member of the selection committee at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Additionally, he collaborates with Visions du Réel Nyon. He is a board member of the European Film Awards. A member of the Union of Italian Film Critics (SNCCI). Nazzaro is a regular contributor to the Italian newspaper Il Manifesto, and the bimonthly magazine MicroMega. He has also contributed his expertise to the Torino Film Festival and the Festa del Cinema di Roma. Furthermore, he has served as a member of the Eidg. Filmkommission CH (Switzerland). He is the author of several books on cinema.

Nili Feller 

An Israeli editor of both feature and documentary films, many of which have won awards at international festivals. Notable titles include "Waltz with Bashir"' "1341 Frames from the Camera of Micha Bar-Am", "The Disappearing Soldier", "Savoy", "The Knee", "Tikkun," and many more. She holds the distinction of winning two Ophir Awards for Best Editing: in 2008 for her work on "Waltz with Bashir" and in 2022 for her editing of "Savoy." Additionally, she lends her editing expertise to television series for various Israeli broadcasters.

Golden Anchor Competition - Jury

Marysia Nikitiuk

A Ukrainian film director, scriptwriter, and writer; she has been crafting scripts for films since 2012. Her short films as a writer have been featured in programs at renowned film festivals, including Locarno, Clermont-Ferrand, Cairo IFF, TISFF, Golden Apricot, and have garnered numerous awards. In 2014, she ventured into directing and has completed three short films: "In Trees", "Mandragora", and "Rabies". Her debut feature film, "When the Trees Fall", premiered at the 68th International Berlin Film Festival in the Panorama section in 2018. In 2019, she co-wrote the film "Evge" with Nariman Aliev, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the Certain Regard section. In 2022, her second feature film, "Lucky Girl", had its premiere at the Tallinn Black Nights International Film Festival in the main competition. Currently, she is in the final stages of completing her next script, "Cherry Blossom", which is dedicated to the Ukrainian-Russian war. "Cherry Blossom" was awarded the Eurimage development award at the Sarajevo Film Festival in 2022.

Ayelet Menahemi 

An Israeli film director, screenwriter, and film editor. Her work encompasses feature films, documentaries, television series, and commercials. In 1985, she graduated with honors from the Film Department at "Beit Zvi". She directed the award-winning short film "Crows", paving the way for feature films such as " Abba Ganuv 3", "Tel Aviv Stories", and "Noodle", the drama series "Landing on Their Feet". Currently, her fourth film, "Seven Blessings", is in the process of being released.

Yaakov Zada-Daniel 

An Israeli film and theater actor who has been active in the industry for the past few years, featuring in both movies and TV series. He received three Ophir Award nominations for his roles in the films " Next to Her", "Valeria Is Getting Married", and "More than I Deserve". He has also appeared in TV series such as "Unsilenced", "Fauda", "Dumb", "Sleeping Bears", and "Carthage", among others. In addition to his screen work, he has graced several theaters in Israel, including the Haifa Theater, Habima, and Beit Lesin. His notable stage performances include roles in plays like "Richard III", "Glengarry Glen Ross", "The Settler", "The Kaban", and "Lady Amar".

Mihai Chirilov 

Artistic director and co-founder of Transilvania International Film Festival (TIFF). Artistic consultant of International Documentary Festival FARAD, Romania. Artistic director of the Making Waves Romanian Film Festival in New York. Film critic and member of FIPRESCI and the European Film Academy. Curator of various Romanian film programs abroad (among others, for Jacob Burns Film Center in Pleasantville, NY) and co-organizer of the complete Lucian Pintilie retrospective at MoMA, in 2012. Author of hundreds of articles and essays, and co-author of the books "Lars von Trier: The Films, the Women, the Ghosts" and "New Romanian Cinema: From Comrade Ceaușescu to Mr. Lăzărescu". Jury member in many film festivals, including the Teddy Jury in Berlinale, Hong Kong, Karlovy Vary, Goteborg, Chicago, San Francisco, Palm Springs, Moscow, Vilnius. 

Israeli Documentaries - Jury

Shlomi Eldar 

An Israeli journalist, a commentator on Arab affairs, and a director of documentary films. His film "Precious Lives" (2010) won the Ophir Award and was shortlisted for the American Oscar. Additionally, it was acquired by the HBO network for broadcasting. "Foreign Land" (2017) received the Best Documentary Award at the Haifa Festival and the Ophir Award. His most recent film, "Riding with a Spy" (2022), received an Ophir Award nomination. In 2007, he was honored with the Sokolov Prize for Electronic Journalism. He is also an author, with two published books to his name: "Fierce as Death" (2005) and "To Know Hamas" (2012). The latter earned him the Yitzhak Sade Prize for Military Literature. He holds a master's degree in Middle Eastern Studies from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Roni Kuban 

An Israeli journalist, director, and playwright, widely recognized as one of Israel's foremost interviewers and documentarists. He has achieved numerous accolades throughout his career, including six consecutive Israel Academy of Cinema and Television awards for his interview program, "A Rendezvous with Roni Kuban". Furthermore, he received the Israeli Documentary Forum Award for his docu-series, "A Life We've Never Seen Before", which delves into the life and work of Hanoch Levin. His series, investigations, and in-depth articles have earned him recognition and acclaim in Israel and internationally. Since 2006, he has been a house director on the documentary magazine program, "Fact". Some of the notable series he has created include "Age Crisis" and "Then a Child Came". As a playwright, he is the author of plays such as "Real Estate" and "Intimacy." He developed a documentary format called "How to Be", which has been sold and staged in numerous countries worldwide. He also made his mark as an actor, taking a leading role in the film "The Death of Cinema and My Father Too", which was officially selected for the Cannes Film Festival in 2020. He received a nomination for the Ophir Award for his performance in the film. Currently, a script he wrote for a feature film, "Obligations", is in the early stages of production. In addition to his work in film and theater, he serves as a radio show host.

Hélène Schoumann

Journalist and writer. She presents programs of cinema on French Radio. she has a weekly culture column in the French newspaper: Actu J Published several books, including a dictionary of Israeli cinema and a story about her grandfather’s time in Auschwitz. The president of the Israeli Film Festival in Paris

Israela Shaer-Meoded

An Israeli director, lecturer, and film researcher, boasts a diverse body of work that spans over eight films, both short and feature-length. Her films have been showcased at festivals in Israel and around the world, earning recognition and awards. Some of her notable works include "Isha" (2019), "Shimon" (2019), "Mori, Shabazi's Riddle" (2018), and "Queen Khantarisha" (2009). In addition to her filmmaking career, she is pursuing her doctoral studies at the School of Cultural Studies at Tel Aviv University. Her research focuses on the intersection of Mizrahi, feminine, and political cinema of the 1970s. She shares her knowledge and passion for film as a lecturer in the Screen Arts Department at the Bezalel Academy of Art and at the Sam Spiegel Film School. Notably, in 2021, she was honored as the recipient of the Steve Tisch Foundation award.

Israeli Feature Film - Jury

Dan Wolman

A veteran Israeli filmmaker whose works have graced prominent film festivals including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto, Shanghai, Goa, Moscow, and many others, winning numerous awards and accolades. His filmography includes titles like "The Dreamer", "My Michael" (adapted from Amos Oz's novel), "Floch", "Hide and Seek", "Tied Hands", and "Valley of Strength" (based on Shulamit Lapid's novel). His most recent creation, "Judas", also based on an Amos Oz novel, is currently captivating audiences in Israeli cinemas. Dan received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the Jerusalem International Film Festival and "The Silver Hugo" at the Chicago International Film Festival for his unique vision and innovative contributions. He was honored with the "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the IFFI International Film Festival in India. Dan also had the honor of lighting a torch on behalf of the Israeli film industry during Independence Day celebrations. His distinguished accomplishments were further recognized with the "Arik Einstein Prize" and "The Ophir Lifetime Achievement Award" by the Israeli Film Academy, acknowledging his invaluable contributions to Israeli cinema and culture.

Mariëtte Rissenbeek 

Managing Director of the Berlin International Film Festival. She pursued her academic journey by studying German Language and Literature, Theatre Studies, and Sociology at both the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht and the Freie Universität Berlin. Her professional journey began in 1986 when she joined Tobis Film, a film distribution company. In 1995, she transitioned into film production, becoming a producer at Ziegler Film. During her time there, she successfully produced various film formats. In 1998, she founded her own production company in Hamburg, collaborating with Mika Kaurismäki. In 2000, she joined the Munich-based production company Hofmann & Voges. Further contributing to the film industry, in 2003 she assumed responsibility for international festival relationships and public relations at German Films, an organization dedicated to the global promotion of German cinema. Her significant role continued to evolve as she became Deputy Managing Director of German Films in 2006, and ultimately, she ascended to the position of Managing Director in 2011.

Guillaume de Seille 

French film producer with an impressive background. After writing and directing two award-winning short films, he dedicated nearly a decade to Canal+ channel's film department. During his tenure, he was commissioning editor in the channel's short film division and later served as an artistic producer for France 2, a renowned French public broadcaster. Since 2000, he has been an independent film producer. Throughout his career, he has produced and co-produced over 60 non-French art-house feature films, often in collaboration with Arizona Films. These films have actively participated in major film festivals worldwide and have received wide releases in France. Noteworthy titles among the films he has been involved with include: "Hesitation Wound" by Selman Nacar (Turkey, 2023); "Cold as Marble" by Asif Rustamov (Azerbaijan, 2022), recipient of the Director's Award at "The Black Nights of Tallinn"; "Herd Immunity" by Adilkhan Yerzhanov (Kazakhstan, 2021); "Sughra's Sons" by Ilgar Najaf (Azerbaijan, 2021); "Kerr" by Tayfun Pirselimoğlu (Turkey, 2021), winner of the Director's Award at the Antalya Film Festival; "Between Two Dawns" by Selman Nacar (Turkey, 2021); "Yellow Cat" by Adilkhan Yerzhanov (Kazakhstan, 2020); "A Dark, Dark Man" by Adilkhan Yerzhanov (Kazakhstan, 2019); "Oleg" by Juris Kursietis (Latvia, 2019), and more.

Michal Lavi 

Artistic director and film lecturer. Graduated from the School of Sound and Screen Arts at Sapir Academic College, and graduated with honors from the Interdisciplinary Arts Program at Tel Aviv University. She is the creator of the film "Mediterranean Fever" (2007). She has also held positions as a content manager at the Sderot and Holon Cinematheques, and she has served as an artistic director and co-director at the South Film Festival. Additionally, she is a member of the management committee of the Negev Cinema Fund. Currently, she teaches at Sapir Academic College and collaborates with director and screenwriter Ari Pullman. Her research book titled 'In the Wake of Longing', which explores the portrayal of longing in Israeli cinema, is anticipated to be published by Resling Editorial in December 2023.

Stephan Komandarev

Bulgarian director, producer, and scriptwriter who boasts an impressive portfolio of award-winning fiction and documentary films. Some of his notable works include: "BLAGA’S LESSONS" (2023) – A fiction film that received the Grand Prix Cristal Globe and Best Actress Award at the 2023 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival. "ROUNDS" (2019) – A fiction film that premiered at the Sarajevo Film Festival and garnered 13 awards. "DIRECTIONS" (POSOKI) (2017) – A fiction film that premiered at the Cannes Film Festival's "Un Certain Regard" section in 2017 and won 12 awards. "THE WORLD IS BIG AND SALVATION LURKS AROUND THE CORNER" (2008) – This film holds the distinction of being the first Bulgarian entry shortlisted for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film (2010). It also holds the record for the most widespread theatrical release of any Bulgarian film, having won 35 awards. "THE JUDGMENT" (2014) – Winner of 12 awards and the Bulgarian entry for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film in 2016. Stephan Komandarev is a 2011 graduate of EAVE (European Audiovisual Entrepreneurs) and a member of both the Bulgarian Film Directors’ Association and the Bulgarian Film Producers’ Association. He is also a distinguished member of the European Film Academy.

Israeli Short Films - Jury

Yoni Goodman

An Israeli animator, he was honored with the prestigious 2022 Landau Prize for the Arts. He embarked on his professional journey as an illustrator for notable newspapers such as 'Haaretz' and 'Maariv'. His role as an animation director has encompassed films like "Waltz with Bashir", "The Conference", and "Where is Anne Frank". He created animated works for global human rights and health organizations, as well as numerous other projects. In 2008, he was awarded the Gross Award for Excellence in Animation. Furthermore, in 2013, he received the European Film Academy Award for Best Feature Animated Film. 

Moshe Rosenthal

An Israeli director and screenwriter. Graduated from The Steve Tisch School of Film and Television at Tel Aviv University. His short films, including "Shabaton" and " Our Way Back", have received awards both in Israel and globally. He is also the creative force behind the acclaimed web series "Confess TLV". His debut feature film, "Karaoke", starring Sasson Gabbay and Lior Ashkenazi, was selected for the main competition of the Tribeca Film Festival and received numerous awards, including four Ophir Awards, the Best Debut Film Award, and the Audience Choice Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival in 2022. In addition to his film work, he has directed commercials for prominent brands and contributed as a screenwriter to various television series.

Sana Tanous 

An Israeli film producer, she has produced numerous films and TV shows. Some of her works include: "Hello, Maria", a short feature film directed by Bassel Halil, who earned an Oscar nomination in the short film category; "Selma", a short feature film directed by Sohila Ghatas, which secured the top spot in the short feature independent film category at the 2022 Haifa Festival; "Diary of a Worker", a documentary series for the Kaan Broadcasting Corporation, helmed by Soha Araf; "Thorn" (2014) directed by Michael Alalo; "Samira" (2014) directed by Dalit Kimor; and "Caught in the Net", a 12-episode TV series for Channel One directed by Ali Nassar (2014), among others.