Israeli Films 'Where To?' and 'I Am New' Win Big at Jerusalem Film Festival

At the 43rd Jerusalem International Film Festival held Thursday evening at the Jerusalem Cinematheque, the major winners were announced across various categories, with total prizes amounting to approximately one million shekels. In the Israeli narrative film competition, Asaf Meknas's "Where To?" took home the top prize for Best Narrative Film, along with Best Screenplay awarded to Meknas and Best Actor awarded to Ihab Salami. The jury praised the film as a "masterpiece of emotion and humanity," highlighting its complex story told with humor and subtlety.

In the Israeli documentary category, the film "I Am New," directed by Yael Avksis and produced by Shlomi Elkabetz and Galit Kahlon, won the Diamond Award. The judges described it as an "intimate family journey that inspires hope." Yola Gadron won the prize for Best Israeli Debut with her documentary "Find Me, Okay?" Additional awards included Best Cinematography to Midan Arma for "How to Feel," Best Editing to Gal Rosenblut for "Amal," and Best Music to Tom Talmudi for "The Comedian."

In short films, the Diamond Award for Best Narrative Short went to Orit Fox Rotem's "The Other Body," while Liron Topaz won Best Animation for "Grandpa." The international competition awarded the Nachama Rivlin Prize for Best Film to the German film "The Dreamy Adventure" by director Valeska Grisebach, praised for its artistic exploration of European identities and borders. Acting honors went to Karlis Arnolds Abots for "Olya."

Other international awards included the GWFF Prize for Best Debut Film to "17" by Kosara Mitic from North Macedonia, with a special mention for "Panda" (China/Hong Kong/Singapore). The "In the Spirit of Freedom" competition awarded the Cummings Prize for Best Film to "Skateboarding Is Not for Girls" directed by Dina Duma. The experimental documentary prize went to the Ukrainian-German film "Silent Flood" by Dmytro Sukholytkyy-Sobchuk.

In the Pitchpoint competition for films in development, the grand prize was awarded to "Three Days in Bangui" by director Yonatan Gurfinkel and producers Shimi Sheinfeld and Yoav Halevi. The Jerusalem Creator Award from the Media Initiative was given to Omri Levy. Additionally, the festival previewed "I Play Rocky," a film about the story behind "Rocky," and announced that Alan Borstein will receive a lifetime achievement award at the Venice Film Festival.