Israeli Filmmaker Yuval Shani Confronts Bullying and Identity in Debut Film Set in Jerusalem

Yuval Shani, a director and screenwriter, reflects on his youth in early 1990s Jerusalem, where despite his passion for Maccabi Haifa football and efforts to fit in, he struggled with feelings of inadequacy and was targeted by bullies. Shani recalls being called derogatory names like "koksinal" (a slur for effeminate boys) from a young age and suffering physical abuse, which he concealed from his parents. He explains that bullies' power lies not in physicality but in recognizing and exploiting perceived weakness.

Now 45, Shani is a successful television content editor and director, known for shows like "The Amazing Race Israel" and "MasterChef." He maintains close friendships with childhood peers and holds no resentment toward his former bullies, many of whom he still sees and cares for. Through his filmmaking, Shani aims to empower the vulnerable.

His first feature film, "Makolet" (The Convenience Store), which won the Ensemble Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival, tells the story of two teenage boys on Jerusalem's outskirts navigating difficult family lives and personal challenges. Shani intentionally created the character Eliyahu, an androgynous and delicate boy, to embody strength and compassion, reflecting Shani's own childhood desire for a different model of masculinity.

Shani, the son of a diplomat and an art lecturer, grew up partly in London before returning to Jerusalem. He openly discusses his journey with sexual identity, revealing he identified as bisexual until age 27 and came out to friends and family gradually. His family ultimately embraced him fully, though the process took time. He studied film at Tel Aviv University, where he found a community that helped him explore his identity.

Currently, Shani is working on new projects including a short film and a series set in Tel Aviv. He is not in a relationship now, finding directing easier than intimacy, and expresses skepticism about dating apps and traditional relationship norms within the gay community. While he respects friends who have children, he personally does not desire to become a parent.