Hanan Savyon to Discuss 'Bros' at Sderot's 25th Film Festival

The Cinema of the South Festival returns to the Sderot Cinematheque from Nov. 1 to 5.

Marking its 25th year, the event presents a program of television premieres, international films, and artist meetings. The festival was created by the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir Academic College. This edition focuses on creators from Sderot and the western Negev. Many of these films examine life in the three years following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led massacres.

The opening night centers on a discussion about the Netflix series "Bros." Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir will join the audience for the conversation. They will be followed by the world premiere of the first two episodes of the show's second season. The series depicts two childhood friends and Beitar Jerusalem fans who manage a pub in the city.

Audiences will see the advance screening of "Motherland," a KAN comedy-drama directed by Yael Hedaya. The cast includes Dana Ivgy, Sasson Gabay, and Alma Zack. The lineup also features "Whose Daughter Are You?" and "The Pshute." "Whose Daughter Are You?" is a documentary series about Mizrahi women in Israel. It is directed by Efrat Shalom Danon and Keren Shayo. Osnat Trabelsi produces the series. The team behind "The Pshute" will appear in a session. Dan Messer directs that series, while Bar Elmaliach Donzov, Chen Rotman, and Oshrit Sarusi created it.

Iris Zaki heads the master's degree program at the school. Her film "What Was She Thinking?" closes the festival. The movie addresses the choice to have no children in Israeli society. The closing ceremony honors editor Nili Feller, a two-time Ophir Award winner. The tribute shows four films she edited and includes a master class. Ari Folman and Dani Rosenberg will meet with filmmakers during that event.

Graduates from Sapir College will screen new projects. Efrat Corem presents "Heart of Gold," starring Chen Amsalem, Menashe Noy, and Israel Atias. Shir Houri Abu shows the documentary "100 Gates." Tal Avitan displays "Carlos Outside the Lines," a film about a children's soccer coach in Kiryat Gat. The program includes eight winning films from past festivals. "Sketches of the Soul" is a collection of five short films by western Negev directors about life after Oct. 7. Sami Shalom Chetrit will premiere "My Beloved Gourama," which follows his father's life in Morocco and Israel.

Swiss director Thomas Imbach will present two films and lead a master class. The Swiss Embassy supports that segment. The closing ceremony will launch Negba, a new incubator for young filmmakers in the south.