DOCUMENTARY FILMS Archives - Israel Film Festival

A LETTER TO DAVID | מכתב לדוד

Films Editor — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:01:35 +0000

Filmmaker Tom Shoval crafts a personal cinematic letter to David Cunio, who was abducted from Nir Oz to Gaza on October 7th and was released after 738 days in captivity. Ten years ago, David and his twin brother Eitan starred in Shoval’s award-winning debut feature film Youth (Berlinale 2013), which focused on the powerful bond between brothers and, in a tragic and unimaginable twist of fate, revolved around a kidnapping. Through unedited behind-the-scenes footage and audition tapes from Youth, Shoval builds a multi-layered documentary that explores the inexplicable connections between life and cinema, memory and reality, and the catastrophic consequences of war.

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FROM OCTOBER 6 TO OCTOBER 7 | בין 6 באוקטובר ל-7 באוקטובר, דורון אלמוג, סיפורו של אלוף

Films Editor — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:01:06 +0000

Spanning from the Yom Kippur War to the horrors of October 7th, Major General Doron Almog’s life is a timeline of Israeli tragedy. Yet, surrounded by five decades of bereavement, this Israel Prize laureate refuses to despair. A profound portrait of a leader transforming relentless personal grief into a legacy of national hope.

Followed by Q&A with The Jewish Agency for Israel CEO and Former Major General Doron Almog

The post FROM OCTOBER 6 TO OCTOBER 7 | בין 6 באוקטובר ל-7 באוקטובר, דורון אלמוג, סיפורו של אלוף appeared first on Israel Film Festival.

MALACHI | מלאכי

Films Editor — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:00:50 +0000

Born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare facial deformity, Malachi was abandoned at birth. His life takes an unexpected turn when a midwife decides to foster him, giving him the chance to grow up with stability, care, and a family. At the same time, his biological parents confront their decision, navigating guilt, responsibility, and the possibility of redemption.

Winner of the 2025 Jerusalem Int’l Film Festival for Best Documentary and Best Editing.

Followed by Q&A with Director and Producer Ido Bahat

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TONIGHT WITH YEHORAM GAON | הערב עם יהורם גאון

Films Editor — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:00:07 +0000

Yehoram Gaon has embodied countless roles – from Kazablan to radio host, from Mossad chief to family man – yet all are woven into his own life story and the story of Israel. Like Shoshana Damari, Yossi Banai, and Arik Einstein, he is a pillar of Israeli culture, with one key difference: he is still with us. The public sees him as a monumental, stately Jerusalemite figure, but behind that image lies a man who was wild in his youth, sharp-witted, solitary, and outspoken in his social and political views. For the first time, he agrees to reveal himself in an intimate cinematic portrait, telling his personal story – that of the man, not the legend – both to the generations who grew up with him and to the young who hardly know him.

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WE WILL DANCE AGAIN | עוד נחזור לרקוד

Films Editor — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Friendship, love, peace and freedom – these ideals drew young hearts from around the globe to Nova’s EDM music festival in the South of Israel. But as the sun rose on October 7th, the fantasy shattered. Rockets sliced through the sky, and the dancing stopped. Confusion morphed into fear as gunfire erupted amidst the chaos. Terror breached the border fence and unleashed violence on the unsuspecting people in its rawest form. It is a stark portrayal of the experiences of those who survived and those who didn’t. The film meticulously reconstructs the events, capturing the raw emotions and heroism that emerged.

Followed by Q&A with film’s participant Eitan Halley

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