Blind Filmmakers Premiere First Israeli Short Films Created Entirely by Visually Impaired Artists

On July 19, the Tel Aviv Cinematheque hosted the premiere of two short narrative films created by participants of the "First Take" film workshop, marking the first time in Israel that films were written and directed by people with blindness and visual impairments. The workshop consisted of ten intensive sessions where 11 participants learned fundamental cinematic language, including scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, and editing. The initiative was led by the Center for Accessible Culture in collaboration with the Tel Aviv Cinematheque and funded by the Dorot Foundation.

Among the participants was Amin Salah, an English teacher from the northern village of Moshehad, who was born with hereditary blindness. Salah described how he conceptualizes scenes by building mental maps through sounds and spatial awareness, explaining that he imagined the film in his mind before shooting. He emphasized that the workshop expanded his understanding beyond sound to visual elements like camera angles and facial expressions, saying, "I joked that I actually learned to see."

The participants chose not to focus their films on disability but rather on universal themes such as relationships, aiming to tell simple, human stories. They also acted in their films and learned to navigate filming locations independently. The collaborative process helped Salah develop skills in multitasking and project management.

The workshop was led by director and actress Or Azulai, who adapted teaching methods for visually impaired students by using tactile tools like Lego blocks to explain composition and camera movement. Azulai highlighted that understanding cinematic space does not require sight but an awareness of spatial relationships and attention focus.

The Center for Accessible Culture, founded over 75 years ago to serve visually impaired individuals, aims not only to provide accessible cultural content but also to empower people with visual impairments as creators. CEO Amir Orni stressed the importance of cultural accessibility as a societal necessity and praised the Cinematheque’s longstanding commitment to accessibility. The workshop also included training in audio description, a specialized narration technique that conveys essential visual information without disrupting story flow.

Supported by the Dorot Foundation, the project plans to expand with more workshops and creative opportunities for visually impaired artists. Amin Salah urged audiences to engage with the films beyond the creators’ disabilities, emphasizing the unique perspectives they bring. Azulai hopes the films will challenge perceptions that disability defines artistic ability, underscoring creativity and perseverance as paramount.