Docaviv Winners 2025

As the artist at the center of this work, the film itself manages to shine through the darkness of our life like a ray of light. Through sensitive and multi-layered storytelling, it reveals the scarred character of its protagonist and creates connections between personal and physical pain, and the collective pain of a time and a place.This intimate film provokes reflection on the relationship between art and reality, and on the meaning of art in times of war. With a rich yet delicate cinematic language, the filmmaker has created a work that lingers with the viewer long after the screening.

With a confident hand, and unapologetic approach the filmmaker leads the audience into the complex entanglement of her past.On the surface, the film appears to be a journey to uncover a family secret, but it transcends this frame and evolves into a meaningful, expressive piece about mother-daughter relationships, fame and downfall, truth and deception.The mother’s character is built by the daughter with piercing honesty and deep compassion, in a process that gives rise to unforgettable scenes of Israeli gothic we never knew existed.

This film is a thought-provoking cinematic essay on the relationship between documentary and war — and its meaning.The filmmaker’s point of view on the behind-the-scenes of documentary filmmaking raises timely ethical questions for us as documentary creators, especially in days like these.With a strong and assured hand, the director orchestrates a masterful work of editing, cinematography, use of archival footage, and research — a film with deep resonance that we believe will stay with us for a long time.

The creator of this film embarked on a long and intimate documentary journey, capturing marginalized figures from the scorching southern edge of Israel’s periphery.Maintaining uncompromising humanism and a naturalistic aesthetic, he draws the viewer into the lives of unlikely protagonists who evoke both insight and empathy.

This film tells a layered and surprising story of place through meticulously crafted, cinematic imagery.

The editing in this film distills its turbulent, complex story through a series of precise and restrained decisions, while remaining faithful to its emotional depth.With a loving and compassionate touch, the editor reveals the intricacies of the characters' relationships, weaving between past and present, revealing and concealing with care.

This film is based on a remarkable investigation that dives deep into the life of an obscure historical villain. It presents an extraordinary piece of detective work that spans past and present, reaching across the globe.

The character we chose at times resembles a kind of Jaffa-based Sisyphus, or maybe Don Quixote, who must obtain, import, or smuggle contemporary Arabic literature against all odds— all while remaining deeply committed to preserving the Palestinian history of Jaffa. You have created a refuge from ill winds and an island of cultural and social optimism.

We are proud to present this award to a courageous filmmaker whose film bravely confronts an ethical dilemma, and through his cinematic gaze we are exposed not only to his own inner conflict, but also to the struggles of those around him with profound existential questions.

They went on the mission of their lives, to liberate the village from the Russian invaders, taking us, the viewers, with them. In moments imbued with terror and fear, shell shock, and an overwhelming sentiment of a struggle between David and Goliath war has never seemed more painful than through the eyes of this brave director. It has never been more tangible, as in this one-of-a-kind film that shows us the unbearable banality of war. We’ve seen similar fiction films, but never before has a documentary like this been made.

We give a Special Mention to the film that managed to avoid using even a single frame from October 7th, and instead took us on a family journey, through the delicate and deep internal conflict of its characters. It is a film with perfect editing and magnificent documentary craftsmanship, showing us how one can be a victim of a terrible crime yet not lose their hope.

A most masterful film with impeccable directing and brilliant editing, with minimalist and delicate cinematic means.
The film's razor-sharp structure succeeds in immersing the viewers in a personal story that becomes, as the narrative unfolds, a story we can all relate to.The director takes her close friends and family, all of whom are amazing characters, on a journey of reconstructing and dealing with a traumatic past. She bravely lets us understand and empathize with who she once was - a person trapped in a violent relationship.
Step by step, she gives an important road map for any person in this situation and to their surroundings.
This is an important film that can be an effective agent of change in the world.

The jury gives a special mention to a film that honors those who refuse propaganda and war, and pays tribute to all forms of resistance.It highlights the courage of an everyday character and uses the most delightful narrative tools: humor, a sense of the absurd, and compelling storytelling.

The film takes us on a funny, sad, and sometimes scary journey to a society falling into destructive militarism, penetrating with vigor into the education system of a faraway town in Russia.

It is full of love for the place, the people and the country.

The film is a warning sign to all societies that seek to be free: militarism corrupts society and corruption uses militarism, as we all lose.

In a serene valley whose elderly inhabitants seem left out of time, a mature and multi-sensory image of the village life emerges, with all its living creatures. Through a perspective that focuses on the farm and house animals, where the spirits of the dead merge with magic, the true inhabitants of the valley are revealed.In a compassionate and hypnotic look that does not escape cruelty, the filmmaker commits herself to a challenging mission of entering the world of the animals surrounding the elderly villagers, telling the story from their point of view - a cat that jumps over the dead and takes their soul, sad sheep counting their days, a stubborn old horse and a rebellious dog.
A film that in its quiet observation engages the viewer in a profound and human experience, and through the perspective of the animals' gaze, the community of the ancient village is revealed as the relationships, dreams and beliefs of its inhabitants are exposed. An extraordinary film in its beauty, a silent look into the past and an ancient wisdom that has disappeared.

“With honesty and compassion, the director of the winning film turns a personal family struggle into a universal, heart-wrenching story – an act of cinematic courage that lingers long after the film ends.
It's a film with spiritual qualities and wit, exploring a world ruled by superstition, allowing its audience to empathize and still question the behavior of those who love him most.
We think this film is as brilliant as its sassy title.

The first-place award goes to a film that masterfully weaves a layered and intelligent narrative through sensitive editing and the evocative use of rich archival material. It tells a complex family story, exploring the ambivalent relationship we often have with our parents—those who try to protect us, yet sometimes end up causing the deepest wounds. The film takes the viewer on an intimate and courageous journey into the director’s personal pain, capturing with grace and precision the emotional intricacies of love, hurt, memory, and identity..

The second award goes to a film that takes us into the world of children living in a state of impermanence. The film navigates the space between belonging and exclusion, approaching this complex subject with sensitivity and subtle irony.

We awarded the 3rd place award to a film that deepens the sense of Israeli deadlock, amplifying the tension between the personal and the political. Constructed from fragments of a crumbling Israeli reality, the film raises disturbing questions about those who shape public opinion and the role of media in a time of social breakdown. Who is using whom?

The cinematography award goes to a work of intimate and sensitive camerawork, paired with thoughtful direction. The filmmaker follows her subject through his daily life with such presence and care that the camera becomes more than an observer—it becomes a gateway into a private world that would likely remain unseen without her.

The editing award goes to a film that uses humor, playful editing, and raw, honest dialogue to tell a painful story about the absence of love between the women in a family. From within its light and comedic tone, a profound, unspoken sorrow emerges. The film handles it with humanity, originality, and emotional depth.