Sderot film festival hits 25th year

The Cinema South Festival begins its 25th edition at the Sderot Cinematheque from November 1 to 5, 2026. Director Reuma Mantzur described the milestone as a "miracle" given the region's history of conflict.

The event has operated continuously for over two decades despite frequent and unexpected bombings from the Gaza Strip. It also persisted through the October 7, 2023 attack, which killed more than 50 residents of the area, most of them civilians.

Mantzur, who arrived at Sapir Academic College as a student in 2006, views the festival as central to the local film community. The college’s School of Audio and Visual Arts continues to sponsor and run the event. She stated that the festival grew in response to "the atmosphere and the reality of our lives."

The program includes pitching events and development incubators for students finishing their graduation films. Mantzur noted a trend where the desire to create more work has increased as life in the region has grown harder. One specific initiative is Through a Woman's Eyes, an incubator for Bedouin women filmmakers guided by filmmaker Sigalit Banai and supported by the Negev Film Fund.

The festival opens with the first two episodes of the second season of Bros, a series by Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon that streams on Netflix. Mantzur said that watching television in a cinema creates a shared experience different from viewing at home. The closing ceremony will feature the launch of Negba, a new incubator for young southern filmmakers.

Historical guests include Richard Gere, who held a master class in June 2004 hours after a missile landed near the venue. Then-mayor Eli Moyal gave Gere a piece of shrapnel from the impact. This year, Swiss director Thomas Imbach will present films and lead a master class in cooperation with the Swiss Embassy.

Mantzur said that bringing in overseas guests has become more difficult, reinforcing the need to back local creators. She admitted that recent years focused on survival following the pandemic and regional upheaval. The full program is available at www.sapir.ac.il/cinema/csf.