From the movie: A Dead Sea | Photo: Gal Genossar

On creating in the Negev

In the Negev, an alternative center for cinematic work has been emerging in recent decades. From the distant Arava to Sderot. From Ofakim to Mitzpe Ramon. Starting with film studies in high schools such as Sha’ar Hanegev, Ramat Hanegev, and more recently in Sderot, continuing with the establishment of new cinematheques in Ofakim, in Netivot alongside the old Sderot Cinematheque that has hosted the Southern Film Festival for 20 years, and ending at the School of Sound and Screen Arts at the Negev College. Many talented graduates have emerged from there to the world, such as David Deri, Roman Shumenov, Ofir Raul Greitzer, Ronen Amar, Oshrit Seroussi, and many more. This alumni pool is the magnet, reserve, and creative engine of the Southern Film Fund.

The Southern Film Festival mentioned above has been in contact with the Gesher Foundation for many years and is a unique and significant alternative to Israeli film festivals. The festival is the significant platform for cinema created in the south, or, about the south, and will continue to be a stage for all the creations of the Fund and the community that creates cinema in the south.

In addition, the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund adopted the South Cinema Village – a village of artists in Kibbutz Bror Hayil that unites a group of filmmakers who have chosen to establish their place of residence and activity in the region in an effort to find an alternative to life in the center of the country. A creative community operates in this framework, which began with the initiative of graduates of the School of Film and Television at the Negev College, and today includes members who have studied film at other institutions as well.

As stated above, the Negev Film Fund sets itself the ultimate goal of grouping and uniting all the institutions, resources, and filmmakers involved in cinema in the south into one large collaborative community for cinematic work. Success in this mission will be a great achievement for the Fund, for cinema, and for cultural creation in the south and in Israel in general.

A joint film project for the Pinchas Sapir College of the Negev

And the Gesher Multicultural Film Fund

With the support of the Film Council and the Ministry of Culture.